Cardiovascular function of African women with different BMIs and blood pressures: the POWIRS study

The aim of this study was to investigate the cardiovascular profiles of a group of African women with different body mass indices and blood pressures.

The study included a sample of 98 apparently healthy African women. The subjects were divided into three groups: lean normotensive (lean NT), overweight/obese normotensive (OW/OB NT), and overweight/obese hypertensive (OW/OB HT). The Finometer apparatus was used to obtain a more elaborate cardiovascular profile. The lipid profile and subcutaneous fat distributions were also determined.

A positive correlation between blood pressure and increased adiposity was obtained. Cardiac output (CO) was elevated in both OW/OB groups. Arterial compliance (CW) was significantly decreased and total peripheral resistance (TPR) significantly increased in the OW/OB HT group compared to the OW/OB NT group. In the total group, systolic and diastolic blood pressure could be explained best by the abdominal skinfold, which showed a direct positive association with TPR and a negative association with CW . In the OW/OB HT group, the increased TPR could best be explained by the abdominal skinfold.

In the OW/OB HT group, an increase in CO and decrease in vascular function led to the hypertensivity of this group. This seems to be related to a truncal, especially abdominal subcutaneous fat distribution. The decreased vascular function was reaffirmed by the pulse pressure (PP) exceeding 63 mmHg, indicating that this group was at high risk for the development of further cardiovascular complications. Lack of significant differences between the OW/OB groups for the anthropometric and lipid profile variables and the difference in age may indicate that the younger OW/OB NT group was at high risk and should be followed up in ensuing years.