The elastic properties of the aorta represent a major cardiovascular prognostic factor. Doppler ultrasound represents a noninvasive method to evaluate it.

We set out to determine the correlation of these parameters with the cardiovascular risk factors.

A total of 40 men and 30 women, aged 32–85 years, were studied from December 2017 to June 2018. They were divided into 2 groups 50 coronary patients and 20 controls. The elastic properties of the aorta were determined using Doppler ultrasound. Central compliance (C) was assessed by calculating the ratio of stroke volume to pulse pressure. The pulse wave velocity (PWV) was calculated by dividing the distance between the two arterial sites by the time difference between the arrival of the pressure wave between the carotid artery and the aorta. We compared these parameters in the 2 groups and studied the correlation between them and the cardiovascular risk factors.

The mean aortic C and PWV in the coronary patients group were 1,06 and 13,58, respectively, vs. 1,34ml/mmHg and 7,29msec/m in the control group (P<0.001 for both). There was no correlation between the sex and elastic properties of the aorta. However, there was a strong correlation with age in both groups (P<0.001). We found that there was a positive correlation between the increase in pulse pressure (r=0.418) and the PWV in both groups (r=0.537) with age. The multivariate study showed that advanced age and the presence of diabetes were independent risk factors that had a negative impact on aortic C. The relative risks of impaired compliance were 6.19 and 1.15, respectively, in diabetes and elderly patients in coronary patients

There is a good evidence that aortic C is significantly altered in the group of coronary patients. It is hoped that the identification of such patients at an early stage will lead to more cost-effective preventive treatment.