Inflammation as Possible Mediator for the Relationship Between Lung and Arterial Function.

Introduction: Reduced lung function is associated with a risk for the development of cardiovascular disease. This association may be due to chronic inflammation which is often present in those with reduced lung function.

Purpose: We investigated the possible role of systemic inflammation as the mediator between lung function and arterial stiffness in 1534 black South Africans.

Methods: Spirometric data including forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were obtained. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), blood pressure (BP) and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (PWV) were determined.

Results: In multivariable-adjusted models, an independent inverse association was found between IL-6 and FEV1 (β = -0.20, p < 0.001) and FVC (β = -0.18, p < 0.001). Similar results were found for CRP. PWV was inversely associated with FEV1 (β = -0.06, p = 0.037). No association was found between inflammatory markers, BP or PWV.

Conclusion: Reduced lung function was associated with increased inflammation and arterial stiffness. The lack of association between arterial stiffness and inflammatory markers suggests that inflammation may not be the mediating link between lung and vascular function in this population.