| Summary: | Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is widely used for arterial stiffness assessment. Increased arterial stiffness is a predictor of cardiovascular risk in adults. There are limited data on PWV and its determinants in young people. Study was performed to compare PWV and its association with blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI) in healthy high school and university students.
Methods: First group – 42 high school students (22 males) 14–15 years (14,8±0,3 years), the second group – 38 university students (18 males) aged 17–21 years (18,8±1,1 years). To study velocities in elastic (Ve) and muscular (Vm) arteries sphygmomanometry was performed on carotid, femoral and radial arteries.
Results: Older students had higher BMI 22,2±2,8 vs 20,06±2,05 kg/m2;p=0,002) and trend to higher systolic BP (126,2±16,6 vs 119,6±10,2 mm Hg;p=0,07) No difference between groups in Vm was found (7,28±1,18 m/s in 1st group; 7,09±1,14 m/s in 2nd). Ve was higher in older group (6,24±1,06 vs 5,57±0,67 m/s in younger group; p=0,001). No gender difference was found in Ve or Vm in either group. Correlation analysis performed in both groups revealed that Ve significantly correlated with age (r=0,26), BMI (r=0,34), systolic (r=0,29), diastolic (r=0,30) and mean BP (r=0,33). Vm correlated only with height (r=0,28). Pulse BP did not correlated with Ve no Vm. Multiple regression found only BMI as independent factor associated with Ve (β=0,27;p = 0,04).
Conclusions: Elastic arteries stiffness increased with age in young people with no gender difference. It depends on BP and BMI. The main determinant of Ve is BMI.
|
|---|
