Age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function is associated with some predisposing factors that increase the risk of vascular damage. This study aimed to examine whether muscle mass reduction, low muscle strength, and their combination were related to arterial stiffness in community-dwelling elderly population. Study participants consisted of 1046 elderly individuals (aged 72 ± 5 years) without cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or liver disease. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed to estimate appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM). A value for ASM was normalized for height (ASM index, kg/m 2). Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured using a Smedley grip dynamometer. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was evaluated as an index of arterial stiffness using a simple automatic oscillometric technique. When participants were stratified based on baPWV cutoff values (< 1800 cm/s, 1800 to 1999 cm/s, ≥ 2000 cm/s), ASM index and HGS progressively decreased with an increase in baPWV levels (P for trend < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, baPWV was significantly associated with ASM index (β = −0.270, P < 0.001) and HGS (β = −0.102, P < 0.001) independent of potential confounding factors. The baPWV of the subgroup with low ASM index and low HGS was significantly higher than that of those with only low ASM index or low HGS (P < 0.001). These results suggest that loss of skeletal muscle mass and function is associated with increased arterial stiffness in the elderly population, and the combination of muscle mass reduction and low muscle strength may lead to greater arterial stiffness than each of the individual conditions.
Metabolic syndrome (MS) may influence vascular reactivity and might cause an excessive increase in blood pressure (BP) during dynamic exercise. We examined this hypothesis in 698 normotensive men (mean age: 43 years) free of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and renal disease. The response of BP to exercise was assessed by the mean arterial pressure (MAP) during bicycle ergometry. The MAP values were expressed as z-scores normalized to the relative increases in heart rate. High-normal BP, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia were diagnosed according to the Japan-specific MS criteria. The z-score of MAP was significantly higher in subjects with high-normal BP (+0.57, P<0.001), dyslipidemia (+0.18, P<0.001) and hyperglycemia (+0.24, P<0.001) than in those without MS component (-0.38). In the high-normal BP subjects, the addition of dyslipidemia and/or hyperglycemia was associated with a progressive increase in the z-score of exercise MAP, whereas no such association was observed in the normal-BP subjects (P=0.033, two-way ANOVA). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that a greater number of MS components (β=0.102, P=0.010) was an independent determinant of increased MAP z-score after adjustment for potential confounders, including age (β=0.123, P<0.001), body mass index (β=0.145, P<0.001) and high-normal BP (β=0.410, P<0.001). These results suggest that accumulation of MS components may alter vascular structure and function and lead to the significant elevation of MAP during dynamic exercise even before clinical manifestation of arterial hypertension.
We have shown that increased arterial stiffness was associated with OH during a standing-up test. Arterial stiffness may contribute to greater BP responses to postural changes from standing.
Serum uric acid (SUA) is correlated with an increased risk of not only gout but also cardiovascular diseases. The present study aimed to longitudinally evaluate the effects of SUA level on renal function and arterial stiffness in a population-based sample of normotensive subjects. The subjects completed a health checkup in 2002 at baseline and in 2011 or 2012 at the end of the follow-up period. A total of 407 normotensive subjects (171 men and 236 women) aged 26-66 years were enrolled in this study. We measured blood pressure (BP), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), central BP, intima-media thickness, SUA level and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We divided the subjects into four subgroups according to the SUA quartile at baseline and compared renal function and arterial stiffness after the follow-up. The cutoff values were 3.6, 4.4, 5.6 and 9.6 mg dl. The SUA levels associated with baPWV (Q1, 1324; Q2, 1457; Q3, 1442; Q4, 1489 cm s), systolic BP (SBP) (Q1, 110.9; Q2, 110.1; Q3, 112.8; Q4. 116.1 mm Hg) and eGFR (P for trend <0.001). There was a significant difference in the incidence of arterial stiffness in women. Multivariate regression analyses showed that after adjusting for potential confounders, including age, sex, body mass index, SBP and lipids, SUA was a significant determinant of baPWV (β=0.117; P<0.05) and eGFR (β=-0.335, P<0.001). The results of this study suggest that elevated SUA levels may be associated with a higher risk of increased arterial stiffness and reduced renal function in normotensive subjects.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.