Skin autofluorescence as a measure of advanced glycation end product levels is associated with carotid atherosclerotic plaque burden in an elderly population

Abstract

Background: Advanced glycation end product is an established risk marker in diabetic vascular disease, but its possible associations with atherosclerosis in a general population are yet to be investigated. We studied the degree of carotid atherosclerosis and its association with skin autofluorescence in an elderly population. Methods: Carotid ultrasound and skin autofluorescence measurements were performed in a subpopulation within the ‘Malmö Diet and Cancer Cardiovascular Cohort’ re-examination study (n = 523). Total plaque area including all prevalent plaques in the right carotid artery was calculated. Complete data on all variables were available for 496 subjects (mean age 72 years). Results: Each 1 standard deviation increment of skin autofluorescence was associated with increased risk of prevalent large plaques (odds ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.66; p = 0.018) independently of diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors. The top versus bottom tertile of the skin autofluorescence was associated with an approximately twofold risk of being in the population with the highest plaque burden [top quartile with total plaque area ⩾ 35 mm2 (odds ratio, 1.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–3.39; p for trend = 0.027)] in fully adjusted analysis. Conclusion: In an elderly population, skin autofluorescence was associated with increasing degree of carotid atherosclerosis measured as total plaque area, independently of diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors.