Modest overweight in women as predictor of vascular endothelial dysfunction
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Vascular endothelial dysfunction ranks among the earliest manifestation of atherosclerosis, and predicts cardiovascular risk. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and specific cardiovascular risk factors in 185 consecutive women without a history of coronary heart disease, endothelial function being assessed by ultrasound measurement of brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD). Women with hypertension, diabetes or hyperlipidaemia continued their usual treatment. Age was inversely associated with FMD. Active smokers had lower FMD than nonsmokers, and subjects with BMI≥25 kg/m2 had lower FMD than those with BMI<25 kg/m2, FMD in overweight women being similar to that noted in obese women. Multivariate analyses revealed that BMI, current smoking, and age were independent predictors of endothelial dysfunction. According to these findings, modestly elevated BMI, smoking, and age are predictors of endothelial dysfunction in women, even when they are treated for other atherosclerotic risk factors, the former two being amenable to lifestyle modification.
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