The correlation between serum LDL-cholesterol and arterial wall stiffness.

BACKGROUND: Elevated serum LDL-cholesterol is a risk factor of atherosclerosis, which involves remodeling of the arterial walls with their subsequent stiffening.

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationships between serum lipids and arterial wall elastic properties.

METHODS: The study group comprised 315 men and women aged 55.84±9.44 years. Serum glucose and lipid concentrations were estimated. All subjects underwent blood pressure measurement, transthoracic echocardiography and assessment of vascular compliance of large (C1) and small arteries (C2) using an HDI/Pulse Wave™ CR-2000 Research Cardiovascular Profiling Instrument. The subjects were divided into three groups: group I - LDL-cholesterol <2.6mmol/L, group II - LDL-cholesterol ≥2.6 mmol/L and <4.0 mmol/L, and group III - LDL-cholesterol ≥4.0 mmol/L.

RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups with regard to smoking status (p =0.56), serum glucose (p =0.13), BMI (p =0.96), systolic (p =0.17) and diastolic blood pressure (p =0.29), or C1 (p =0.09). On the other hand, C2 was higher in group I and II than in group III (5.12±2.57 vs. 5.18±2.75 vs. 4.20 ± 1.58 ml/mmHg×100, respectively, p < 0.01). The multivariate regression analysis negated independent associations between C1 and serum lipids. In contrast, C2 was associated independently inversely with serum LDL-cholesterol concentration (r = -0.18, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Higher serum LDL-cholesterol concentration seems to contribute independently to stiffening of small arterial vasculature in otherwise healthy adults. Screening for dyslipidaemia in the general population and its prompt treatment are most desirable.