Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Impaired elasticity of the aorta is a marker of interest in many diseases that may confer risk of cardiovascular disease. Non-invasive cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) based measurements of aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) are increasingly being recognized as a tool to detect early changes in aortic structure, function, and stiffness. The sensitivity of CMR-based methods of aPWV measurement could unmask early arterial dysfunction in obese youth at risk for cardiovascular disease. Specifically, increased aortic stiffness measured by faster aPWV would suggest an individual has impaired elasticity of the aorta and potential vascular disease. This study population consisted of overweight/obese youth (n=12), and healthy-weight controls (n=7). Aortic stiffness was measured through CMR-based phase-contrast measurement of aPWV. Four algorithms were used to estimate aPWV. PWV was also estimated via standard applanation tonometry. Obese participants had higher percentage body fat (p<0.001) and body mass index (p<0.001), but did not differ from healthy-weight controls in other cardiometabolic risk factors (cholesterol levels, blood pressure, inflammatory markers) or physical activity levels. Mean aPWV was higher in obese participants when corrected for age and sex (p=0.014), and was associated with body mass index. Increased inflammation (C-reactive protein) was associated with increased aPWV speed (p=0.01). PWV estimated through applanation tonometry was not significantly different between groups. Therefore, aPWV estimated by CMR is a sensitive measurement to detect early changes in arterial stiffness in adolescents with subclinical biomarkers of cardiovascular disease.