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

Abstract

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.