Abstract 12394: There are Gender Differences in Central Obesity and Metabolic Profile Concerning Peripheral Arterial Wave Reflections

Abstract

Introduction: Central obesity is an established cardiometabolic risk factor. However, gender specific abdominal fat repartition is understudied. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that gender-specific differences of subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat compartments as expressed by abdominal fat index (AFI) , are related with altered metabolic profile and arterial properties of hypertensives.

Methods: We studied 369 consecutive never treated essential hypertensive men (n=183, age= 52±10 years) and women (n=186, 57±12 years), non diabetic, with normal waist circumference (92±9 and 73±13 cm, respectively). In all participants anthropometrics variables were recorded and venous blood samples were taken to determine their metabolic profile. Arterial stiffness was evaluated, on the basis of c-f PWV by means of a computerized method (Complior SP). Heart rate-corrected augmentation index (AIx75) was estimated as a measure of wave reflections. Ultrasonography was used for the assessment of abdominal fat distribution. Subcutaneous (S) and preperitoneal (P) fat layers were measured at their maximum and minimum thickness sites on the upper median abdomen. AFI was calculated as Pmax to Smin ratio.

Results: Women had better metabolic profile than men, according to fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein levels (97±9 vs. 97±5 mg/dl p=0,869, 201±43 vs. 213±38 mg/dl p=0.036, 133±40 vs. 139±43 mg/dl p=0.043, 116±52 vs. 140±79 mg/dl p=0.010, 59±14 vs. 42±10 p<0.001, respectively) and lower AFI (0.87±0.52 vs. 1.24±0.72 p<0.001), though more subcutaneous (18±7 vs. 15±6 p<0.0001) than preperitoneal fat accumulation (14±6 vs. 16±6 p=0.078). On the contrary, women had increased AIx75 than men (30.3±6 vs. 23±10 p<0.001), while they did not differ regarding c-f PWV (8.52±1.6 vs. 8.6±1.9 m/sec p=0.611).

Conclusions: Hypertensive women exhibit lower abdominal fat index and higher subcutaneous fat accumulation than men. This is associated with better metabolic profile and augmented peripheral wave reflections.