Association between chronological age and vascular function in adults with and without multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with vascular comorbidity that increases with age. Vascular function (VF) is associated with vascular comorbidity and outcomes such as cognition, fatigue, and disability in MS. Age predicts VF in the general population, yet this relationship is unknown in MS.

OBJECTIVES/

METHODS

This study compared MS (n=129) and controls (n=51) based on carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and heart rate-corrected augmentation index (AIx75) and examined age as a predictor of PWV and AIx75.

RESULTS

The samples did not differ based on age, sex or body mass index (BMI). PWV was higher in MS than controls (7.2 m/s vs. 6.6 m/s), whereas AIx75 was not different (21.3 % vs. 18.7 %). Regression analysis indicated that after controlling for BMI and mean arterial pressure (MAP), age remained a significant predictor of PWV only in MS (β = 0.256, p<0.01). After controlling for sex, expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores, disease duration, and MAP, age remained a significant predictor of AIx75 in MS (β = 0.371, p<0.01), as well as in controls after controlling for sex, BMI, and MAP (β = 0.347, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that age predicts VF in MS and establish the need for future research that examines VF across the lifespan in MS.