[A study of the association between the aortic pulse wave velocity and atherosclerotic risk factors among Japanese Americans in Seattle, U.S.A].

Cardiovascular disease prevention screening was conducted among 1389 Japanese Americans in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. from 1989 to 1994. The association between atherosclerotic risk factors and the aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), an indicator of atherosclerosis, was examined by using multiple logistic regression method. Based on a study in 1996 by Suzuki et al. on the association between PWV and atherosclerotic indicators, abnormally high PWV was defined as 8.0 m/sec. and over for those less than 60 years of age and 9.0 m/sec. and over for those 60 years of age and older Significant odds ratios to estimate the risk for the presence of abnormally high PWV were found in age >or= 60 years (4.31, p < 0.001), hypertension (2.00, p < 0.001), diabetes (5.65, p < 0.001), current drinker (0.44, p < 0.001), ex-drinker (0.49, p < 0.05), and ex-smoker (1.82, p < 0.01) among men. Women showed a similar association: age > or = 60 years (3.03, p < 0.001), hypertension (1.94, p < 0.01), diabetes (2.47, p < 0.05), TC/HDL-C >or= 4.5 (1.98, p < 0.001), current drinker (0.47, p < 0.001), and ex-drinker (0.45, p < 0.05). Our findings are almost identical to those from other studies showing the association between coronary heart disease and its risk factors. The question of whether PWV can be a predictor of atherosclerotic diseases, particularly coronary heart disease, remains to be answered by additional studies. However, PWV may serve as a simple and valuable indicator to estimate the extent and severity of asymptomatic atherosclerosis in the large artery.