Ângulo de fase da bioimpedância e estratificação de risco cardiovascular

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for approximately one-third of deaths in Latin American countries. Its high prevalence is mainly related to risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, and diabetes, among others. Bioelectrical impedance phase angle has been identified as a risk factor for several diseases, including cardiovascular disease, and can be a useful identification tool in patients without cardiovascular disease but with an increased risk of developing it. Objective: To assess the association of phase angle values with cardiovascular risk stratification using the Framingham risk score and the WHO HEARTS risk score. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted including adults aged ≥ 20 years from two primary care centers in Porto Alegre and its metropolitan area, southern Brazil. Phase angle was the outcome variable, measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis at a frequency of 50 kHz. Cardiovascular risk was calculated using the Framingham risk score and the WHO HEARTS risk score. Associations were analyzed using crude generalized linear models and adjusted for sex and age. Results: The study sample consisted of 164 individuals with a mean age of 52.2 (SD 17.9) years. Low-risk individuals by HEARTS had significantly higher phase angle values than high-/very high-risk individuals (ß = -0.57 [95% CI, -0.95 to -0.19], P = 0.003). The Framingham risk score showed a trend toward significance for higher mean phase angle values in low-risk individuals than in high-risk individuals (ß = -0.43 [95% CI, -0.88 to 0.02], P = 0.06). Conclusions: Phase angle values were lower in individuals at high/very high cardiovascular risk than in those at low cardiovascular risk. This result indicates that phase angle is a promising tool for cardiovascular risk assessment.