Arterial stiffness is associated with cancer mortality: Insight from Kailuan study

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence on the association between arterial stenosis and the risk of all‐cause mortality in cancer patients (ACMC). This study investigated whether the status of arterial function and structure measured by brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is associated with ACMC. METHODS: A total of 43,943 Chinese adults underwent a baPWV examination. Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the association between the baPWV values and ACMC. RESULTS: During a total follow‐up duration of 3.81 ± 2.50 years, there were 157 deaths among 553 cancer cases diagnosed during the follow‐up. Patients with baPWV ≥18 m/s showed an increased risk of ACMC compared to patients with ideal vascular function. In the multivariate‐adjusted model, we observed a significant association between arterial stiffness severity and ACMC with a hazard ratio (HR) 2.72 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.55–4.80; p < 0.001) in those with baPWV ≥18 m/s. With a 1‐SD increase in baPWV, the HR (95% CI) for ACMC in the entire cohort, men, and patients ≤60 years old were 1.20 (95% CI: 1.03–1.41; p < 0.05), 1.20 (95% CI: 1.01–1.43; p < 0.05), and 1.44 (95% CI: 1.10–1.44; p = 0.008), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Increased arterial stiffness measured by baPWV is associated with ACMC. The association between high baPWV (≥18 m/s) and risk of all‐cause mortality was prominent in men and those ≤60 years of age.