Predictors Of Vascular Health In A Multi-racial Sample Of Premenopausal Women

Vascular health examining arterial stiffness/compliance and work of the heart, have emerged as significant surrogate measures of cardiovascular risk. Less is known about predictors of vascular health and whether these vascular markers and their predictors differ by race. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether body composition and physical activity levels could predict vascular measures of cardiac risk in premenopausal women. METHODS: A total of 205 apparently healthy premenopausal volunteers, mean age = 26 years (White = 79, Black = 52, Hispanic = 74) participated in the study. Vascular markers included carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), central augmentation index (cAIx), and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Body composition measures included BMI, waist circumference, body fat %, and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Physical activity was determined using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). An analysis of variance was used to determine racial differences in markers of vascular health. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine predictors of vascular health for the entire sample and by race. RESULTS: Black women had higher cfPWV than White women (p < 0.01) and higher MAP than Hispanic women(p < 0.01). Both Black and Hispanic women had higher cAIX than White women (p < 0.01). For the total sample, body fat% predicted cfPWV(p < 0.01),cAIX (p < 0.01),and MAP(p < 0.05). In White women, VAT predicted cfPWV (p < 0.05) and IPAQ predicted cAIX (p < 0.05), while in Hispanic women, body fat % predicted MAP (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Body fat % serves as the best predictor of overall vascular health, however, race differences impact the utility of these predictors with physical activity and VAT being the best predictors for white women and body fat being superior for Hispanic women. This study underscores the importance of finding better predictors of vascular health in Black women.