P5.23 A MEDICAL CONFERENCE DINNER’S IMPACT ON CENTRAL BLOOD PRESSURE AND VASCULAR AGE

Abstract

Central blood pressure (BP) is recognised as a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to have a beneficial effect on CVD. However, consumption of a lipid-rich meal may exert the opposite effect. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine whether the immediate effect of a medical conference dinner was associated with reduced central BP and hence improved vascular age. We examined attendees at a medical conference before and after the conference dinner which included a three course meal and wine menu. Participants had brachial and central BP measured. Central BP was measured in duplicate over the right radial artery using the Sphygmocor device (Atcor Medical, Sydney, Australia). The cohort consisted of 60 attendees (43% women) with a median age of 40 years (IQR 35 – 54) and a mean follow-up period of 4 ± 1 hour. Only one attendee smoked, whereas six took antihypertensive medication. While heart rate increased, all measurements of brachial and central BP were reduced after the dinner (Table 1). Multiple regression showed that central systolic BP and augmentation index (Alx) was reduced after the dinner independently of age, gender, height, and baseline heart rate (p = 0.008 and p = 0.01). Furthermore, calculations of the slope of the regression lines between Alx@HR75 and age before and after the dinner revealed a reduction of 5.5 years in the vascular age. In conclusion, central BP was reduced and vascular age improved by 5.5 years after intake of a medical conference dinner.