Age-related changes in vascular structure and function Determinants and cardiovascular risk

Arterial stiffness is one of the characteristics of vascular aging. Increases in pulse pressure, which re.ects an increase in the stiffness of the large arteries, are associated with elevated C-reactive protein levels. This may suggest a role of in.ammation in the development of arterial stiffness. We investigated the relation between measures of arterial stiffness and C-reactive protein within the framework of the Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort study including subjects aged 55 years and older. The carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and the distensibility coef.cient of the carotid artery were used as measures of arterial stiffness. Data on both arterial stiffness and C-reactive protein were available for 866 participants. In adjusted models, levels of C-reactive protein were linearly associated with pulse wave velocity (regression coef.cient 0.081, 95% CI 0.001-0.161). Adjusted mean values of pulse wave velocity were signi.cantly different across tertiles of C-reac-tive protein, being higher in the highest tertile of C-reactive protein. However, no signi.cant association between C-reactive protein and carotid distensibility was observed.