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Non-esterified fatty acids and risk of peripheral artery disease in older adults: The cardiovascular health study.

TitleNon-esterified fatty acids and risk of peripheral artery disease in older adults: The cardiovascular health study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2023
AuthorsAhiawodzi, P, Solaru, KWhite, Chaves, PHM, Ix, JH, Kizer, JR, Tracy, RP, Newman, A, Siscovick, D, Djoussé, L, Mukamal, KJ
JournalAtherosclerosis
Date Published2023 Jan 29
ISSN1879-1484
Abstract<p><b>BACKGROUND AND AIMS: </b>Non-esterified fatty acids have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. No longitudinal study has assessed their effects on peripheral artery disease (PAD). We determined the relationships between NEFAs and incident clinical PAD and abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) in a population-based cohort of older persons.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>We evaluated 4575 community living participants aged >65 years who underwent measurement of circulating NEFAs in fasting specimens and ABI in 1992-1993. Participants were assessed annually for clinical PAD until 2015 and underwent repeat ABI in 1998-1999. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to model the associations between NEFAs and risk of clinical PAD and logistic regression to model the associations of NEFAs with incident abnormal ABI.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Mean age was 74.8 years, 59% were female, and 17% were Black. NEFAs were associated with higher risk of clinical PAD in unadjusted and adjusted models. The adjusted hazard ratios for incident clinical PAD were 1.51 (95%CI = 1.06-2.13, p = 0.02) across extreme tertiles, and 1.14 (95%CI = 0.99-1.31, p = 0.08) per standard deviation higher NEFA. The corresponding odds ratios for abnormal ABI were 0.95 (95%CI = 0.69-1.32, p = 0.76) across extreme tertiles, and 1.03 (95%CI = 0.89-1.20, p = 0.68) per standard deviation higher NEFA. Relationships appeared similar irrespective of sex, race, or pre-existing cardiovascular disease, but were stronger later than earlier in follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>Higher serum levels of NEFAs are significantly associated with increased likelihood of clinical PAD over long-term follow-up but not with 6-year decline in ABI. NEFAs may offer a potential target for intervention against clinical PAD.</p>
DOI10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2023.01.020
Alternate JournalAtherosclerosis
PubMed ID36754661
Grant ListU01 HL130114 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
ePub date: 
23/01