Family patterns of arterial stiffness across three generations in the Malmö Offspring Study.

Background: Central haemodynamics have in recent years emerged as a promising predictor of cardiovascular health and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Central haemodynamics are affected early in the development of vascular aging and contributes to target organ damage. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (c-f PWV), augmentation index (Aix) and central SBP (cSBP) are variables that reflect arterial stiffness and central haemodynamics.

Aim: To study the association between patterns of central haemodynamics across three related generations focusing on c-f PWV.

Methods: In all, 1131 participants from the Malmö Diet Cancer Study (MDCS) and Malmö Offspring Study (MOS) were included. c-f PWV was measured (Sphygmocor) in grandparents and in all offsprings. Correlation analyses of c-f PWV between offspring and c-f PWV in parents and grandparents were conducted. Parents and grandparents were stratified into quartiles by c-f PWV. Offspring c-f PWV means were compared with one-way ANOVA analyses. Multiple regression analyses were adjusted for age, sex, BMI, SBP and fasting glucose. Bonferroni corrections were used.

Results: c-f PWV in offsprings was positively correlated with c-f PWV in parents (r = 0.26, P < 0.001) and in grandparents (r = 0.29, P < 0.001). Parents with high c-f PWV had offspring with significantly higher means of c-f PWV.

Conclusion: A measure of aortic stiffness (c-f PWV) is positively correlated across three related generations in this population-based study.