Plasma Cathepsin L Level is Positively Associated with Arterial Stiffness in Geriatric Patients

Background Cathepsin L (Cat L) is involved in the regulation of vascular aging processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma Cat L level and arterial stiffness marker through brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in geriatric patients. Methods Cross-sectional study with 502 people were selected from a population of 2250 people aged over 65 years old, from three different basic health zones of Shanghai. Blood samples were collected, and the baPWV was measured with the SphygmoCor system. The geriatric patients with baPWV values >20 m/s were defined as the high arterial stiffness group. Results In total, 248 (49.4%) of the 502 geriatric patients in this study were in the high arterial stiffness group. The high arterial stiffness group were older ( p = 0.006) and had higher prevalence of hypertension ( p = 0.020), coronary heart disease (CHD) ( p = 0.037), higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) ( p = 0.018), pulse pressure ( p = 0.017), plasma Cat L ( p = 0.002) and logarithmically transformed C-reactive protein ( p = 0.023) levels than those in the low arterial stiffness group. Multivariable forward stepwise regression analysis showed that Cat L ( β = 0.418, p = 0.011) and hypertension ( β = 0.217, p = 0.029) were associated with baPWV values in geriatric patients. Moreover, an increased plasma Cat L level (odds ratio (OR): 1.048; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.043–1.169; p = 0.018) was an independent factor for arterial stiffness among the geriatric patients. Conclusion In this study, plasma Cat L level was positively correlated with arterial stiffness in geriatric patients.