High-normal blood pressure, impaired glucose regulation and metabolic syndrome have variable impact on central artery stiffness

Aizawa, Kunihiko; Shoemaker, J. Kevin; Overend, Tom J.; Petrella, Robert J.

doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2008.02.012

« Previous Next »Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
Volume 81, Issue 1 , Pages 72-78, July 2008

High-normal blood pressure, impaired glucose regulation and metabolic syndrome have variable impact on central artery stiffness

Kunihiko Aizawa
- Aging, Rehabilitation & Geriatric Care Research Centre, Lawson Health Research Institute, Parkwood Hospital, London, Ontario N6C 5J1, Canada
- School of Kinesiology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada
J. Kevin Shoemaker
- School of Kinesiology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada
Tom J. Overend
- Aging, Rehabilitation & Geriatric Care Research Centre, Lawson Health Research Institute, Parkwood Hospital, London, Ontario N6C 5J1, Canada
- School of Kinesiology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada
- School of Physical Therapy, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6G 1H1, Canada
Robert J. Petrella
- Aging, Rehabilitation & Geriatric Care Research Centre, Lawson Health Research Institute, Parkwood Hospital, London, Ontario N6C 5J1, Canada
- School of Kinesiology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
- Corresponding author at: Aging, Rehabilitation & Geriatric Care Research Centre, Parkwood Hospital, Room B3002, 801 Commissioners Road East, London, Ontario N6C 5J1, Canada. Tel.: +1 519 685 4292x42983; fax: +1 519 685 4060.

Received 11 December 2007; accepted 25 February 2008. published online 07 April 2008.

Abstract

Aims

This cross-sectional study compared carotid artery stiffness in metabolic syndrome (MS) subjects with high-normal blood pressure (HNBP) and/or impaired glucose regulation.

Methods

Eighty-nine subjects (40M and 49F, 53.5±9.3 years) with either HNBP, impaired glucose regulation, or both were studied. The following measurements were included: risk factors for MS (waist circumference, blood pressure (BP), glucose, tryglycerides and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol), and carotid artery stiffness (Doppler ultrasound).

Results

Forty-four subjects (20M and 24F) were classified as without MS (MS−) and 45 subjects (20M and 25F) as with MS (MS+). As expected, each component of MS was different between the groups (all p<0.05). Arterial distensibility in MS+ was significantly lower than in MS− (0.152±0.010 vs. 0.181±0.0091/mmHg×10⁻², p<0.05), while β stiffness index was not different between the two groups (12.3±1.1 vs. 10.5±1.1AU, p=0.115). Multivariate analysis revealed that carotid artery stiffness was independently associated with resting HR together with age (both p<0.05).

Conclusions

These results show that, in subjects with HNBP and/or impaired glucose regulation: (1) the presence of MS decreases arterial distensibility of the carotid artery but do not increase β stiffness index and (2) the presence of MS dose not synergistically increase carotid artery stiffness.

Keywords: Aging, Blood pressure, Glucose, Heart rate