Does Aortic Propagation Velocity Predict Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Prehypertensive Patients?

Objective: Predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis include carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT).The risk of atherosclerosis increases owing to hypertension.The aim of the present research was to determine the association between aortic propagation velocity (APV), cIMT, and EAT in patients with prehypertension.Methods: This research included 208 patients.Two groups were generated: prehypertensive and control.The APV, cIMT, and EAT values were also recorded.The correlations between these parameters were also analyzed.Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in the EAT, cIMT, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and APV variables (P < 0.05).A statistically significant inverse association was found among EAT, cIMT, SBP, DBP, and APV and the atherosclerosis surrogate markers (P < 0.05).Linear regression analysis revealed a close relationship between the EAT, cIMT, and APV. Conclusion:In prehypertensive patients, APV as a non-invasive method may be helpful in identifying individuals predisposed to atherosclerosis.