J Lipid Atheroscler.  2013 Dec;2(2):77-83. 10.12997/jla.2013.2.2.77.

The Correlation Between Achilles Tendon Thickness and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

• Kwak MS
• Yoon SJ
• Cho YH
• Hong SM
• Park JK
• Oh S
• Jeon DW
• Yang JY

• KMID: 1845572
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12997/jla.2013.2.2.77

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Achilles tendon thickness (ATT) has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). The aim of this study is to establish the correlation among ATT, obesity and established cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, smoking, and dyslipidemia.
METHODS
In total, 19 patients (male 31.5%, mean age 60.0+/-12.5) with dyslipidemia and 96 control (male 64.6%, mean age 62.3+/-8.5) were enrolled. ATT was measured by ultrasonography. Anterioposterior diameter which represents the ATT was measured bilaterally, 4 cm above the insertion of Achilles tendon to the tuber calcite. Dyslipidemia was defined as elevated total cholesterol, triglyceride, or LDL cholesterol, or low levels of HDL cholesterol.
RESULTS
There was no significant differences including ATT between the two groups (for ATT, dyslipidemia group, 0.44+/-0.04 vs control, 0.45+/-0.02 cm, p=0.783). There was no significant correlation between ATT and other cardiovascular risk factors except weight (r=0.34, p=0.007) and body mass index (r=0.63, p<0.001). Dyslipidemia was not significantly correlated with ATT (r=0.02, p=0.783). Use of statin was not significantly correlated with ATT (r=0.04, p=0.605).
CONCLUSION
ATT was not significantly increased in patients with dyslipidemia. Lipid accumulation of Achilles tendon was not found in patients with dyslipidemia in this study.

Keyword

Dyslipidemia; Achilles tendon; Atherosclerosis

MeSH Terms

Achilles Tendon*
Atherosclerosis
Body Mass Index
Calcium Carbonate
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, HDL
Cholesterol, LDL
Coronary Artery Disease
Diabetes Mellitus
Dyslipidemias
Humans
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II
Hypertension
Obesity
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Risk Factors*
Smoke
Smoking
Triglycerides
Ultrasonography
Calcium Carbonate
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, HDL
Cholesterol, LDL
Smoke

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Correlation of Achilles tendon thickness and cardiovascular risk factors. (A and B) Correlation analysis revealed a significance between weight, BMI and Achilles tendon thickness (for weight, r=0.34, p=0.007; for BMI, r=0.63, p<0.001). (C-F) There was no significant correlation between Achilles tendon thickness and other lipid levels.

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