Restrictive Spirometry Pattern Associated With Increased Arterial Stiffness

Restrictive spirometry pattern and reduced forced vital capacity (FVC) level are associated with a higher risk for arterial stiffness in men and women, according to a recent study published in Chest.¹

The objective of the current analysis was to investigate the relationship between restrictive spirometry pattern and arterial stiffness based on sex. 

A total of 2961 patients (1709 men and 1252 women) were selected for study recruitment from a cohort of 7559 individuals who had undergone a physical examination at the National Cheng Kung Hospital in Taiwan between October 2006 and August 2009. Exclusion criteria included the following: obstructive lung disease; medications that may influence blood pressure, plasma glucose levels, lipid profiles, and pulmonary function tests; and history of asthma, lung cancer, tuberculosis, coronary heart disease, stroke, or any pulmonary structural deformities. Mean patient age was similar among both men and women — 45.3±11.3 years and 44.8±11.2 years, respectively.

Restrictive spirometry pattern was identified as an FVC <80% of the predicted value and a forced expiratory volume in 1 second/FVC ratio of ≥70%. Increased arterial stiffness, which was defined as right brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) ≥1400 cm/s, presented as an indicator of either atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk or severity of atherosclerotic vascular damage.²

In linear regression, FVC was negatively associated with baPWV levels in both men and women (correlation coefficients of –0.421; P <.001 in men and –0.473; P <.001 in women). Restrictive spirometry pattern, on the other hand, was positively associated with increased arterial stiffness in both men and women (men: odds ratio [OR], 2.16; 95% CI, 1.33-3.50; P <.01 and women: OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.02-3.72; P <.05) following adjustment for other variables.

The investigators concluded that reduced FVC level and restrictive spirometry pattern were associated with an increased risk for arterial stiffness in both men and women. On a clinical basis, assessment and follow-up of arterial stiffness should thus be considered in persons with a restrictive spirometry pattern.

References

1. Wu I-H, Sun Z-J, Lu F-H, et al. Restrictive spirometry pattern is associated with increased arterial stiffness in men and women. Chest. 2017;152(2):394-401.
2. Yamashina A, Tomiyama H, Arai T, et al. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity as a marker of atherosclerotic vascular damage and cardiovascular risk. Hypertens Res. 2003;26(8):615-622.