Arterial Stiffness In Adults Research Articles

Physical activity is independently associated with multiple measures of arterial stiffness in adolescents and young adults

Physical activity (PA) is associated with decreased levels of arterial stiffness in adults, but the relationship between PA and multiple measures of arterial stiffness in adolescents and young adults is not clear. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that PA is an independent predictor of multiple measures of arterial stiffness in adolescents and young adults. A total of 548 participants were enrolled in a study of the cardiovascular effects of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (lean, 201; obese, 191; T2DM, 156). Anthropometrics, blood pressure, central and peripheral measures of arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity, brachial distensibility, and augmentation index), blood (lipids and metabolic tests), and accelerometry data were collected. General linear modeling was performed to test for the independent relationship of PA on arterial stiffness. The mean age of the participants was 17.9 years (standard deviation, 3.5 years). After adjusting for other cardiovascular disease risk factors such as age, sex, body size, mean arterial pressure, and the presence of obesity or T2DM, PA was an independent predictor of augmentation index and brachial distensibility (P < .001). A greater effect of PA on pulse wave velocity was found in participants with T2DM (P = .009) compared with participants in the lean or obese groups. Physical activity is significantly and independently associated with multiple measures of arterial stiffness in adolescents and young adults. The role of PA in the prevention of cardiovascular disease target organ damage in youth, independent of energy balance, merits further exploration.

Carotid Stiffness in Young Adults: A Life-Course Analysis of its Early Determinants

Cardiovascular risk factors affecting arterial stiffness in adulthood may develop at different critical periods earlier in life. We examined whether the trajectories, from adolescence to young adulthood, of blood pressure, body fatness and fat distribution, blood lipids, cardiorespiratory fitness, and heart rate determined levels of arterial stiffness in young adults. We investigated 373 apparently healthy adults in whom cardiovascular risk factors were repeatedly examined between the ages of 13 and 36 years and carotid stiffness estimates were obtained at the age of 36 years. Differences in the mean levels and the trajectories of risk factors throughout the 24-year longitudinal period between subjects with different levels of carotid stiffness at age 36 years were analyzed with generalized estimating equations. Compared with individuals with less stiff carotid arteries, those with stiffer carotid arteries at the age of 36 years were characterized from ages 13 to 36 years by greater levels of and steeper increases in blood pressure and central fatness, independently of each other and other risk factors. These increases were already present in adolescence, preceded the development of poorer levels of blood lipids, cardiorespiratory fitness, and heart rate, which were evident during adulthood only, and explained to a great extent the deleterious association between these risk factors and carotid stiffness at the age of 36 years. Multiple and intertwined mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of arterial stiffness have their origins in early life. Blood pressure and central fatness have a pivotal role herein and should be specifically targeted to prevent arterial stiffening and its cardiovascular sequelae.

Metabolic syndrome in childhood and increased arterial stiffness in adulthood — The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Objective. We conducted the present study to examine the associations of two different paediatric metabolic syndrome (MetS) definitions and recovery from childhood MetS with arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV), an index of arterial stiffness, measured in adulthood.Methods. A total of 945 subjects participated in the base-line study in 1986 (then aged 9–18 years) and the adult follow-up in 2007 (then aged 30–39 years). Cardiovascular risk factor data were available at both base-line and follow-up. In the follow-up study, arterial PWV was measured using a whole-body impedance cardiography device.Results. Subjects suffering from MetS in childhood (prevalence 11.1%–14.1%) had higher arterial PWV after 21-year follow-up when compared with those not afflicted by the syndrome in childhood (P < 0.007). An increasing number of the MetS components in childhood were associated with increased PWV in adulthood (P for trend = 0.005). Subjects who recovered from the MetS during the 21-year follow-up period had lower PWV than those with persistent MetS (P < 0.001).Conclusion. MetS in childhood predicted increased arterial stiffness in adulthood, and recovery from childhood MetS was associated with decreased arterial PWV in adulthood. The current results emphasize the importance of the prevention and controlling of MetS risk factors both in childhood and adulthood.

P97 Do intravenous antibiotics influence arterial stiffness in adults with cystic fibrosis?

Introduction and objectivesAdults with cystic fibrosis (CF) have evidence of increased arterial stiffness which is associated with a chronic systemic inflammatory status (1). We hypothesised that an intervention which decreased...

Effects of Resistance Training and Combined Aerobic and Resistance Training on Arterial Stiffness in Adults

Arterial stiffness is one of the risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Aerobic exercise is efficacious in reducing arterial stiffness. However, the effect of resistance training (RT) on arterial stiffening is controversial. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of RT and combined aerobic and resistance training (CART) on arterial stiffness and CVD risk factors of young healthy men. METHODS: Thirty-six subjects (20.22 ± 2.47 years) volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to either RT (n = 12), CART (n = 12), or sedentary control (SC) group (n = 12). The RT and CART groups performed RT three times a week for 12 weeks. The CART group also performed a cycle exercise at 70-80% of the maximal heart rate for 30 min immediately after each RT session. One-repetition maximum (1RM), blood lipid profiles, arterial stiffness index (ASI), and body composition were measured before and after 12 weeks. RESULTS: (1) Both RT and CART groups significantly increased 1RM values on all training muscle groups (p <.05), (2) no significant changes in ASI were observed in the RT and CART groups after training, and (3) both systolic blood pressure (+6.83 mmHg, p <.05) and pulse pressure (+7.00 mmHg, p <.05) were higher in the RT group than those in the SC group after training. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that 12 weeks of moderate intensity whole-body RT and CART dose not alter arterial stiffness, suggesting that RT when performed in accordance with health organizations guideline does not have a deleterious on arterial function.

Effects of Smoking on the Pulse Wave Velocity and Ankle Brachial Index in Adolescents

Background and Objectives：Smoking is known to increase arterial stiffness in adults. The pulse wave velocity (PWV) is known as an established index of arterial stiffness. The effects of smoking on the PWV in adolescents have not yet been established. We measured the PWV and ankle-brachial index (ABI) in adolescents to determine the effects of smoking on adolescents. Subjects and Methods：Four hundred twenty-seven adolescents between 14 to 16 years of age were enrolled from three high schools in Seoul, Korea. The study group was comprised of 48 smokers (38 males and 10 females) and 379 nonsmokers (254 males and 125 females). Measurements of the height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were performed. The blood pressures of the extremities, and the PWV, the ABI, the ejection time and the pre-ejection period were measured using an automatic device (VP-1000). Among the smoking group, we investigated the association between the duration of smoking, the age at which smoking started and the total number of cigarettes smoked with the PWV and ABI. Results：The brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) in the smoking group was higher than that of the non-smoking group, but the difference was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference between the ABI of the two groups. Among the smokers, the heart-brachial PWV (hbPWV) was significantly associated with the duration of smoking and the total number of cigarettes smoked. Conclusion：Our study showed no significant difference in the PWV between the two groups. A longitudinal, long-term investigation is needed to more accurately determine the effects of smoking on adolescents. (Korean Circulation J 2007;37:414-418)

Pulse wave velocity and ankle brachial index in adolescents with essential hypertension

Purpose:Pulse wave velocity(PWV) and ankle brachial index(ABI) are not only noninvasive methods used to assess arterial stiffness in adults, but also useful, simple ways to estimate the severity of hypertension, end stage renal disease and atherosclerosis in adults. But there are few studies on PWV and ABI in adolescents and children. In this study, hypertensive adolescents were compared to normal individuals to find out the usefulness of PWV as the index of progress in the disease. Methods:413 teenagers were divided into three groups. The first group consisted of adolescents that only had hypertension(Group 1:23 teenagers). The second group consisted of the adolescents who had hypertension with obesity(Group 2:17 teenagers), and the last group was the normal subjects(Group 3:328 teenagers). Weight, height and body mass index were measured. Simultaneous measurements of systolic, diastolic and average blood pressure were obtained from the four extremities. PWV, ABI, ejection time and preejection period were also measured. Results:Right brachial-ankle PWV was significantly higher in both group 1 and group 2 compared with group 3, and significantly higher in group 2 compared with group 1. Likewise, left brachial- ankle PWV also showed significantly higher values in both group 1 and group 2 compared with group 3, and also higher values in group 2 compared with group 1. Positive correlations were found between the systolic, diastolic, average blood pressure and PWV. There were also positive correlations between the blood pressure and weight, body mass index. Conclusion:Higher PWV was demonstrated in adolescents with essential hypertension compared to normal subjects. Follow-up study is needed to evaluate the progress