Obesity, fat distribution and large artery wall properties

SUMMARY Large artery wall properties - compliance (CC) and distensibility (DC)- may play a role in cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to in- vestigate the relation between obesity - an independent cardiovascular risk factor - and large artery wall properties. In a population sample of 250 men and 243 women, 20-79 years, diameter, DC and CC of the elastic aorta and common carotid artery (CCA) and muscular brachial (BA) and femoral arteries (FA) were measured with an echo-tracking device. The effects of body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (W-H ratio) and skinfold thickness were assessed and adjusted for confounding factors. BMI was positively (p<0.01) related to arterial diameter. Obesity was not significantly related to aortic stiffness. Except for carotid artery DC in women, BMI was negati- vely (p<0.05) related to DC of CCA, BA and FA in men and women. BMI was also negatively related to CC of the BA (p<0.05) and FA (p<0.05) only in men. An increased waist-to-hip ratio was negatively related to FA DC and CC (p<0.01) in men. Skinfold thickness was negatively related to BA DC in women (p<0.001). Associations between obesity and arterial wall proper- ties depend on the index of obesity, gender and the vascular territory. BMI- based effects on arterial wall properties are more important than those of W-H ratio or skinfold thickness. BMI-based obese subjects have a larger arterial diameter and stiffer arteries, which may be compatible with flow- dependent vasodilation. The effects of W-H ratio on arterial wall properties are restricted to men, those of skinfold thickness to women.