P3.26 ARTERIAL DISPENSABILITY IN STAGE 1 HYPERTENSION: COMPARISON BETWEEN PREMENOPAUSAL WOMEN AND MEN OF THE SAME AGE

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether arterial distensibility in hypertensive premenopausal women differs from that observed in men and whether these differences may vary according to age. Methods: We studied 385 young stage 1 hypertensives from the HARVEST study. Arterial distensibility predictors were included in regression analyses. Patients were divided into 3 age classes and differences in arterial distensibility parameters were examined with a 2-way ANCOVA using sex and age-class as factors. Results: Despite better metabolic profile and lower systolic BP, women showed lower large artery (C1) and small artery (C2) compliance, higher augmentation index (AIx) and total peripheral resistances (TPR) than men (all age-adjusted p<0.0001). When data were adjusted for BP and heart rate (HR), lifestyle habits and metabolic parameters, differences remained highly significant (all p<0.0001). However, when height was included in the models only differences in C2 and AIx remained significant (p=0.033 and p=0.001, respectively). Systolic BP and HR (for C1 and C2), BMI and age (for C2 and AIx), sedentariety (for AIx), were significant determinants of distensibility parameters. In both genders C2 and AIx were closely correlated with TPR (p<0.001). The gender-related differences in distensibility parameters did not vary across the age classes with no significant interaction between age and sex. Conclusions: The height accounts for most of the sex-related differences in arterial distensibility parameters. However, for C2 and AIx the differences persists after adjustment for height indicating that in premenopausal women hypertension is due to a high TPR condition which is accompanied by impairment of C2 and AIx.