Obesity, elevated levels of fasting plasma glucose and type 2 diabetes are associated with aortic stiffness.

OBJECTIVES: Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are associated with structural and functional vascular abnormalities. MetS and its components may increase arterial stiffness and the risk of cardiovascular events. However, the relationship of MetS and its components, including obesity, with arterial stiffness is still not fully understood.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In a group of 116 patients undergoing treatment for hypertension, we searched for the relationships between parameters of MetS and aortic stiffness expressed by pulse wave velocity (PWVAo). PWVAo was measured using an arteriograph working on the oscillometric principle, and pulse wave analysis (PWA) for noninvasive assessment of the parameters of central hemodynamics.

RESULTS: From the cluster of parameters of MetS we found a significant association between body mass index (BMI) and aortic stiffness, and between fasting plasma glucose/type 2 diabetes (FPG/T2DM) and aortic stiffness. We did not find significant relationships between other components of MetS (HDL cholesterol and triglycerides) and aortic stiffness, based on the influence of hypolipidemic therapy. Arterial stiffness increased with age and was higher in females.

CONCLUSION: Arterial stiffness was associated with age, sex, and MetS components (BMI and FPG/T2DM). Surprisingly, the parameters of dyslipidemia do not influence stiffness parameters, which can be explained by hypolipidemic therapy. The influence of hypolipidemic therapy should therefore be borne in mind when evaluating arterial tree function (Tab. 15, Ref. 62). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: obesity, fasting plasma glucose, type 2 diabetes, aortic stiffness, metabolic syndrome, arterial hypertension, cardiovascular risk.