Evaluation of modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and vascular stiffness parameters in individuals who have undergone traumatic limb amputation

BACKGROUND: The effect of traumatic limb amputation on the development of cardiovascular diseases in young and middle-aged individuals remains poorly understood. AIM: To study the effect of traumatic limb amputation on the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases by assessing modifiable risk factors and parameters of vascular stiffness. METHODS: A total of 100 male patients aged 18 to 50 years were examined and divided into three groups: group 1 consisted of 35 patients with traumatic lower limb amputation; group 2 consisted of 35 patients with traumatic upper limb amputation; and group 3 (control group) consisted of 30 patients without amputations. All patients underwent assessment of the main and additional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including vascular stiffness parameters, plasma atherogenic index, triglyceride/glucose index, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, blood leukocyte levels, and C-reactive protein levels. RESULTS: All the main risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases (overweight, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, insufficient physical activity, unbalanced diet, chronic stress, anxiety, and depression) were identified in patients of groups 1 and 2. Additionally, statistically significant (p 0.001) changes in certain parameters of vascular stiffness were detected. Thus, the mean value of the cardio-ankle vascular index in group 1 was higher than in groups 2 and 3 (8.7 ± 0.9, 7 ± 1, and 6.3 ± 0.7 conventional units, respectively). In addition, statistically significant differences were found in the biological age of blood vessels (50.2 ± 5.3, 43.8 ± 3.2, and 38.5 ± 6.6 years, respectively), blood leukocyte levels (9.3 ± 0.9, 7.3 ± 1.4, and 5.5 ± 0.8 × 10⁹/L, respectively), C-reactive protein (8.5 ± 2.9, 3.6 ± 1.3, and 1.1 ± 0.7 mg/L, respectively), as well as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (3.8 ± 0.9, 2.4 ± 0.6, and 1.1 ± 0.2 conventional units, respectively). CONCLUSION: Traumatic limb amputation was found to lead to the development of the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including an increase in subclinical markers of inflammation, which, when combined with vascular stiffness disorders, predispose to the early development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases, which is particularly important to consider in young and middle-aged individuals.