High-normal blood pressure, impaired glucose regulation and metabolic syndrome have variable impact on central artery stiffness

AimsThis cross-sectional study compared carotid artery stiffness in metabolic syndrome (MS) subjects with high-normal blood pressure (HNBP) and/or impaired glucose regulation.MethodsEighty-nine subjects (40M and 49F, 53.5 ± 9.3 years) with either HNBP, impaired glucose regulation, or both were studied. The following measurements were included: risk factors for MS (waist circumference, blood pressure (BP), glucose, tryglycerides and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol), and carotid artery stiffness (Doppler ultrasound).ResultsForty-four subjects (20M and 24F) were classified as without MS (MS−) and 45 subjects (20M and 25F) as with MS (MS+). As expected, each component of MS was different between the groups (all p < 0.05). Arterial distensibility in MS+ was significantly lower than in MS− (0.152 ± 0.010 vs. 0.181 ± 0.009 1/mm Hg × 10−2, p < 0.05), while β stiffness index was not different between the two groups (12.3 ± 1.1 vs. 10.5 ± 1.1 AU, p = 0.115). Multivariate analysis revealed that carotid artery stiffness was independently associated with resting HR together with age (both p < 0.05).ConclusionsThese results show that, in subjects with HNBP and/or impaired glucose regulation: (1) the presence of MS decreases arterial distensibility of the carotid artery but do not increase β stiffness index and (2) the presence of MS dose not synergistically increase carotid artery stiffness.