P186 IMPACT OF OBESITY ON VASCULAR STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN INDIVIDUALS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of disease progression and death in multiple sclerosis (MS). Obesity has a negative impact on vascular structure and function, but whether this contributes to worse vascular function similarly in individuals with MS and controls is unknown. Aim: To investigate the impact of obesity on vascular function and structure in a group with MS. Methods: In a sample of n = 133 participants (MS: n = 89, control n = 44), height and weight were measured to calculate BMI. After a 10 minute rest in the supine position, resting heart rate (HR) and brachial blood pressure (BP) were collected. Augmentation index (AIX), HR normalized AIX (AIX@HR75) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) and subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) were measured with applanation tonometry. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and beta-stiffness (beta) were measured with carotid ultrasound, and Forearm Blood Flow (FBF Baseline, Peak and Area Under the Curve (AUC)) was measured with strain gauge plethysmography. Data were analyzed with multiple linear regression analyses with group, sex, BMI and GroupxBMI as independent variables. Results: Higher BMI correlated with higher HR and PWV in both groups. In the MS group however, a higher BMI was also correlated with worse outcomes on the SEVR, FBF Baseline, Peak and AUC. Outcome variables Standardized beta1 Adjusted R2 Group Sex BMI Grp x BMI HR rest 1.081* 0.005 0.520* −0.944 0.11 AIX −0.019 −0.523* 0.040 0.045 0.26 AIX@HR75 0.341 −0.536* 0.235 −0.270 0.32 SEVR −1.292* 0.175* −0.565* 1.090* 0.22 PWVc 0.001 −0.003 0.321* 0.120 0.12 PWVc/MAP 0.324 −0.126 0.278 −0.122 0.11 IMT 0.715 0.164 0.385 −0.511 0.12 FBF Baseline 0.432 0.070 0.326* −1.090* 0.33 FBF Peak 0.580 0.318* 0.152 −1.035* 0.35 FBF AUC 0.746 0.230* 0.316 −1.174* 0.21 1Group (0 = control, 1 = multiple sclerosis), Sex (1 = Female, 2 = Male). *(p < 0.05). Conclusions: Having a higher BMI contributes even more to a worse vascular profile in MS patients than in controls, suggesting that reducing overweight and obesity in the MS population will benefit their vascular structure and function.