Vascular stiffness and risk factors in young people depending on body mass index
Authors: Evsevyeva M , Eremin M , Sergeeva O , Rusidi A , Kudryavtseva V , Shchetinin Е 
Published: May 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Stavropol State Medical University

Background. The relationship of arterial stiffness, which is  marker of vascular age, with main risk factors (RF) was studied mainly in adults and  elderly. It was shown that in this age group,  presence of major RF, including obesity, leads to increased rigidity of  artery wall.  Purpose -  to evaluate associations of various body mass (BM) with vascular stiffness and some RF in young people. Material and methods. Within  framework of the National Preventive Project  "University – Healty Territory", 264 students (93 boys and 171 girls) aged 18-25 years were evaluated for  profile of metabolic RF (total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), glucose) and blood pressure (BP). Vascular stiffness was  determined by using  cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), which was measured with diagnostic complex VaSera-1500 (Fucuda Denshi, Japan). This indicator, unlike others, does not depend on  level of  BP acting on  arterial wall at time of pulse wave registration. Since the values on left side were higher than on the right, the results are presented according to CAVI-L. Students were divided into groups according to  BM-index: 1group - insufficient BM; 2 group – normal BM and 3 group – overweight. Data processing was performed using software package "Statistica 10.0" (StatSoft Inc, USA). Results. It turned out  CAVI values in  three observation groups, formed by  BM indicator, in boys averaged 6.8 ±0.2, 5.9 ± 0.1 and 5.4 ± 0.1, and in girls - 6,1 ± 0,11, 5,9 ± 0,05 and 5,7 ±0,13. In boys,  differences between groups on this indicator reached  significant level (р = 0,032). At  same time, systolic and diastolic BP from  first to  third group rose in boys by 9 and 2, and in girls – by 11 and 4 mm Hg.  TC, LDL and TG also increased from  first to  third group in boys by 0.5, 0.4 and 0.5, and in girls - by 0.6, 0.7 and 0.65 mmol/l. HDL decreased in these groups in boys by 0.07, and in girls – by 0.37 mmol/l. Glucose level from  first to  third group increased by 0.12 in boys and 0.14 mmol/l in girls. Conclusion. In contrast to the mature and elderly population,  a decrease in  vascular stiffness  was found among young people as their MT increased.  Moreover, this trend is especially significant among boys  –  difference in this indicator between the extreme groups of girls is 3.5 times less than in boys. Similar data on the improvement of  arterial wall elastic status  in obese children are called by pediatricians "honeymoon" as part of  long-term process of age-related vascular remodeling. It is noteworthy that in young people with an increased BM, positive changes in vascular rigidity occur in the presence of negative changes in hemodynamic and metabolic parameters, which are more significantly represented among girls. Further in-depth research is needed to clarify  mechanisms that regulate relationship between  metabolic status of young people and  peculiarities of their vascular remodeling.