Effect of central adiposity on the progression of arterial stiffening and central hemodynamic abnormalities

Abstract

Objectives: Central adiposity and arterial stiffness/abnormal central hemodynamics have been much focused as risks for cardiovascular disease independent of conventional risk factors. The present prospective study was conducted to examine the effect of central adiposity on the progression of increased arterial stiffness and abnormal central hemodynamics. Methods: Anthropometric parameters including waist circumference, radial Augmentation Index (rAI), the second peak of the radial pressure waveform (SP2) (a marker of central systolic pressure) and its pulse pressure (PP2) (a marker of central pulse pressure), brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV) were obtained after a 3-year interval in 1544 men (age, 43±9 years). Results: Subjects was divided into 3 groups by the tertile ranges of waist circumference. While the changes of systolic and diastolic blood pressure during the study period were similar among these 3 groups, the change of baPWV during the study period was significantly larger in the highest tertile range group (n=565) (41±95 cm/sec) than that in the lowest tertile range group (n=499) (20±87 cm/sec) (p<0.001) (Figure). On the other hand, the change of rAI during the study period, that of SP2, and that of PP2 were similar among these 3 groups (Figure). Conclusion: Central adiposity may accelerate the progression of increased stiffness in large to middle-sized arteries without concomitant acceleration of the progression of abnormal pressure wave reflection.