[Vascular age assessment in smokers].

Aim: Smoking is the most harmful social habit and is the origin of many diseases including direct damaging of arterial walls. The aim of this study was to assess the possible differences in vascular age of smokers versus never smokers, measured in common carotid artery (CCA).

Methods: The study included healthy volunteers with age and sex risk factors for cerebrovascular disease development.

Beta stiffness--setting age standards.

Beta stiffness index is one of the most commonly used measures of depicting mechanical arterial properties and development of preclinical atherosclerosis. Main influences on its value hold age and blood pressure levels. The goal of this study was to determine age standards of beta stiffness index on common carotid artery in our population using a formula modified by Kawasaki.