Participants also underwent non-invasive assessments of arterial structure and function that are increasingly recognized as potent predictors of adverse cardiovascular outcomes [15,57,58]. Carotid–femoral PWV, an index of central arterial stiffness, was measured with the help of transcutaneous Doppler ultrasonography [59]. Carotid ultrasonography was performed for the measurement of arterial diam_S and diam_D, and IMT; from these variables, vascular mass and the ratio of wall thickness to lumen diameter were calculated. PWV, IMT, and carotid diameter measurements were performed off-line by a single observer (A. Scuteri) who was blinded to the identity of participants.
