Properties of central arteries in populations of different ethnicity: Ethnicity and central arteries

Abstract

Recent studies have established a strong and independent association between central haemodynamics of central arteries and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Evaluation of indices of central arterial stiffness will thus improve cardiovascular risk assessment. While age modifies the structure of the aorta and as such contributes significantly to the changes in the central haemodynamics, other known cardiovascular risk factors as well as genetic factors modulate these age-dependent changes. Interracial variations in cardiovascular risk factors and genetic composition are responsible for the differences in properties of the central arteries across different ethnic populations. Establishing operational threshold for distinguishing normal and abnormal values among different ethnic populations is essential for making clinical decisions.