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. 2025 Apr 8:12:1491643.
doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2025.1491643. eCollection 2025.

The associations between skin advanced glycation end-products and Framingham cardiovascular risk in different age groups

Yina Wang #  1 , Shangyan Liang #  1 , Ying Zhou #  1 , Xiumei Tang  2 , Na Ye  2 , Weilan Huang  2 , Xixiang Tang  1 , Boxiong Jiang  1   2 , Yunfeng Pan  3
Affiliations

The associations between skin advanced glycation end-products and Framingham cardiovascular risk in different age groups

Yina Wang et al. Front Cardiovasc Med. .

Abstract

Objective: Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), potentially influencing its development and progression differently at various life stages. This study aimed to elucidate the associations between AGEs and the risk of ASCVD across different age groups.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1,240 subjects were enrolled and divided into three groups (Group Ⅰ, 20-39 years old, n = 468; Group Ⅱ, 40-59 years old, n = 471; Group Ⅲ, 60-79 years old, n = 301). Skin AGEs were measured by skin autofluorescence (SAF). ASCVD risk was assessed by a validated Framingham risk score calculator. Other proven ASCVD risk factors were also measured, including glycosylated hemoglobin, uric acid, lipid profile, homocysteine, and cystatin C.

Results: An increasing trend in skin AGEs was observed from Group Ⅰ to Group Ⅲ. Skin AGEs were significantly associated with ASCVD risk in all subjects (OR 1.029, 95% CI 1.003-1.056, P = 0.018), independent of some of the proven cardiovascular risk factors. This association was particularly significant in individuals aged 40-59 and 60-79 (OR = 1.047, 95% CI: 1.025-1.069; OR = 1.022, 95% CI: 1.002-1.042; both P < 0.05). ROC analysis showed that skin AGEs predicted the diagnosis of medium or high ASCVD risk in the pooled group, Group Ⅱ, and Group Ⅲ.

Conclusion: Our study substantiates that skin AGEs play an important role as an independent risk factor for ASCVD, highlighting their significance beyond traditional risk assessment models, particularly in middle-aged and older populations.

Keywords: Framingham cardiovascular risk score; atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; different age groups; skin advanced glycation end-products; skin autofluorescence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of population enrollment.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age-stratified distribution of skin AGEs. AGEs, advanced glycation end-products.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Relationships of skin AGEs and Framingham ASCVD risk score in different age groups. (A) Pooled group: 20–79 years old. (B) Group Ⅰ: 20–39 years old. (C) Group Ⅱ: 40–59 years old. (D) Group Ⅲ: 60–79 years old. AGEs, advanced glycation end-products; ASCVD, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Comparison of receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of different parameters in detecting the ASCVD risk in the pooled group. (A) The analysis was for medium ASCVD risk. (B) The analysis was for high ASCVD risk. ASCVD, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; BMI, body mass index; AGEs, advanced glycation end-products; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TG, triglyceride; Apo-B, apolipoprotein B100; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for predictive values of skin AGEs in detecting medium ASCVD risk in different age groups. (A) Pooled group: 20–79 years old. (B) Group Ⅱ: 40–59 years old. (C) Group Ⅲ: 60–79 years old. AGEs, advanced glycation end-products; ASCVD, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for predictive values of skin AGEs in detecting high ASCVD risk in different age groups. (A) Pooled group: 20–79 years old. (B) Group Ⅱ: 40–59 years old. (C) Group Ⅲ: 60–79 years old. AGEs, advanced glycation end-products; ASCVD, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
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