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Pulse wave velocity and its gender-related associations with cardiovascular risk factors in a high cardiovascular
Galina Zemtsovskaja1,2, Jelena Abina1, Kalju Meigas1
1Department of Health Technologies, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.
Insights
Pulse wave velocity (PWV) varies by cardiovascular risk factors (CVrF) and gender. Aortic stiffness associations differed between genders, with factors like BMI and apolipoprotein B being unique to women.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Vascular Health
- Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Risk
Background:
- Diverse associations exist between pulse wave velocity (PWV) and cardiovascular risk factors (CVrF).
- Understanding gender-specific differences in PWV and its CVrF associations is crucial, particularly in high-risk populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate gender differences in PWV and its associations with CVrF.
- To compare PWV associations in the whole population (WHgr) versus apparently healthy (AHgr) and at-risk groups (Rgr: hypertensive, obese, or diabetic).
Main Methods:
- Investigated PWV using Arteriograph in 805 adults (aged 20-65).
- Participants were randomly selected from the Tallinn Population Register.
- Analysis included comparisons between genders and population subgroups (WHgr, AHgr, Rgr).
Main Results:
- PWV was highest in the Rgr; no gender differences within groups.
- In women (WHgr, AHgr), age, SBP, BMI, and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) explained 54-48% of PWV variance.
- In men aged ≥50, elevated SBP showed strong odds ratios for increased PWV (25.3 WHgr, 21.2 Rgr, 28.4 AHgr).
- In women aged ≥50, elevated SBP and diabetes were associated with increased PWV (5.5 WHgr, 3.6 Rgr, 29.3 AHgr).
Conclusions:
- Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and BMI associations with PWV, and diabetes with elevated PWV, were unique to women, indicating increased aortic stiffness.
- Aging and SBP were related to PWV even in apparently healthy individuals.
- Age ≥50 in at-risk women and normal SBP in apparently healthy individuals were not associated with elevated PWV.
Introduction:
Associations found between pulse wave velocity (PWV) and cardiovascular risk factors (CVrF) are diverse. We aimed to evaluate whether differences in PWV and its associations with CVrF in a high cardiovascular risk population exist between genders and between the whole population (WHgr) and groups of apparently healthy (AHgr) and those of hypertensive, obese or diabetics (Rgr).
Material And Methods:
Pulse wave velocity measured by Arteriograph was investigated in 805 adults aged 20-65, randomly selected from the Tallinn Population Register.
Results:
Pulse wave velocity was the highest in Rgr and no differences were found between genders of the same group. In women of WHgr and AHgr age and SBP with addition of BMI and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) were associated with 54% and 48%, and without ApoB in Rgr with only 30% of PWV values. In men aged ≥ 50 of WHgr with elevated SBP odds ratios for increased PWV were 25.3 and 3.5, in Rgr 21.2 and 2.2, in those aged ≥ 50 AHgr 28.4. In women aged ≥ 50 of WHgr with elevated SBP and diabetes odds ratios were 5.5, 4.9 and 4.0, in Rgr with elevated SBP and diabetes 3.6 and 3.7, in those aged ≥ 50 AHgr 29.3.
Conclusions:
The associations of ApoB and BMI with PWV and diabetes with elevated PWV indicative of increased aortic stiffness were unique for women. Aging and SBP were related to PWV even in AHgr, although age ≥ 50 years in Rgr women and normal SBP in AHgr were not associated with elevated PWV.
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