Korean J Geriatr Gerontol.  2020 Jun;21(1):26-31. 10.15656/kjcg.2020.21.1.26.

Association between Serum Total Bilirubin Levels and Arterial Stiffness in Korean Men

• Yun E
• Lee YJ

• KMID: 2566425
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15656/kjcg.2020.21.1.26

Abstract

Background
We aimed to investigate the relationship between serum total bilirubin levels and arterial stiffness assessed based on brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) in Korean men aged 45 years and older.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included a total of 1387 individuals who underwent health check-ups between November 2006 and July 2010 at the Health Promotion Center of Gangnam Severance Hospital. Their serum total bilirubin levels were categorized into quartiles: Q1, 0.3-0.7; Q2, 0.8-0.9; Q3, 1.0-1.1; and Q4, 1.2-2.8 mg/dL. A high PWV was defined as more than the 75th percentile of the participants (≥1530 cm/s). The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for high PWVs were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for confounding factors across the serum total bilirubin quartiles.
Results
Compared with that of the highest quartile, the OR of the lowest quartile was 1.56 (95% CI: 1.04-2.41) for total bilirubin levels after adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol consumption, exercise frequency, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose levels, triglyceride levels, and high-density lipoprotein levels.
Conclusion
Serum total bilirubin levels are inversely associated with arterial stiffness in Korean men.

Keyword

Arterial stiffness; Bilirubin; Pulse wave velocity