Arterial stiffness is increased in asthmatic children

Altered arterial stiffness is a recognized risk factor of poor cardiovascular health. Chronic inflammation may increase arterial stiffness. We tested whether arterial stiffness is increased children with asthma, a chronic disease characterized by fluctuating airway and systemic inflammation. Arterial stiffness, expressed as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV_cf), was measured in 37 mild-to-moderate asthmatic children: 11 girls, median (range) age 11.1 years (6–15). PWV_cf in asthma was compared to PWV_cf in 65 healthy controls matched for age, height, and gender previously studied in Germany and was correlated with airway inflammation and obstruction. PWV_cf was higher in asthmatic children compared to controls: PWV_cf median (interquartile range) was 4.7 m/s (4.5–4.9) vs. 4.3 m/s (4.1–4.7), p < 0.0001. In asthmatic children, PWV_cf was inversely associated (r ² = 0.20, p = 0.004) with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁). This association remained significant after adjusting for possible confounders including body mass index, blood pressure, steroid use, and FeNO.