Association of Glycoprotein Acetylation With Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity in Patients Receiving Maintenance Hemodialysis

Background:Patients undergoing long-term maintenance hemodialysis (HD) experience persistent low-grade inflammation and are at high risk of cardiovascular complications.Aortic stiffness, commonly assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), is a well-established marker of cardiovascular risk.Glycoprotein acetylation (GlycA) reflects cumulative systemic inflammation; however, its association with aortic stiffness in patients undergoing HD remains unclear. Material/Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 160 patients receiving maintenance HD were enrolled.Aortic stiffness was defined as cfPWV > 10 m/s.Serum GlycA levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between GlycA and aortic stiffness. Results:A total of 52 patients (32.5%) had aortic stiffness.These patients were older and had a higher prevalence of diabetes and hypertension, along with higher blood pressure, glucose, and GlycA levels (all P < 0.05).In multivariable logistic regression analysis, GlycA remained independently associated with aortic stiffness, with each 1 μmol/L increase in GlycA associated with a higher likelihood of aortic stiffness (odds ratio 1.007, 95% CI 1.004-1.010;P < 0.001).In linear regression analysis, cfPWV was positively associated with log-GlycA, systolic blood pressure, and glucose levels. Conclusions:Circulating GlycA levels are independently associated with cfPWV and aortic stiffness in patients undergoing HD, suggesting that GlycA may serve as an integrative marker of inflammation-related vascular alterations in this population.