Women exhibit a greater age-related increase in proximal aortic stiffness than men.
J Hypertens
; 19(12): 2205-12, 2001 Dec.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11725165
BACKGROUND: Large artery mechanical properties are a major determinant of pulse pressure and cardiovascular outcome. Sex differences in these properties may underlie the variation in cardiovascular risk profile between men and women, in relation to age. OBJECTIVE: To investigate sex differences in the age-related stiffening of large arteries. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. METHODS: One hundred and twenty healthy men and women were recruited and divided equally into tertiles by age: young (mean +/- SD, 23 +/- 5 years), middle-age (47 +/- 3 years) and older (62 +/- 7 years). Lipids, mean arterial pressure and heart rate were matched within each tertile. Carotid tonometry and Doppler velocimetry were used to measure indices of large artery stiffness. RESULTS: There was no sex difference in systemic arterial compliance (SAC) in the young group (mean +/- SEM, 0.61 +/- 0.05 arbitrary compliance units (ACU) in women compared with 0.67 +/- 0.04 ACU in men), but in the older population women had lower SAC than men (0.27 +/- 0.03 ACU compared with 0.57 +/- 0.04 ACU respectively; P < 0.001). Measures independent of aortic geometry (distensibility index and aortic impedance) indicated that stiffness was lower in young women than in men (P < 0.05), but the reverse was true in the older population (P < 0.01). This paralleled the brachial and carotid pulse pressures, which were lower in young (P < 0.01) and higher in older women compared with those in men (P < 0.05). Follicle stimulating hormone concentrations correlated strongly (r values 0.39-0.65) with all indices of central, but not peripheral, arterial function, whereas concentrations of luteinizing hormone, progesterone and oestradiol correlated less strongly. CONCLUSIONS: In men and women matched for mean pressures, the age-related stiffening of large arteries is more pronounced in women, which is consistent with changes in female hormonal status.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Aorta
/
Envejecimiento
/
Caracteres Sexuales
Límite:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
/
Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Hypertens
Año:
2001
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Australia