Markers of Early Vascular Ageing

Background: Cardiovascular damage is clinically manifested as coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke and peripheral artery disease. The prevalence of these adverse conditions is higher with advancing age. Although many patients present cardiovascular damage late in their life, it is common to see patients with early atherosclerosis in cardiovascular intensive care units at ages lower than 50 years in men and 55 for women. Keywords: Arterial stiffness, intima media thickness, early vascular aging, early arteriosclerosis, early atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease.