Assessment of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and arterial stiffness in women of different ages

Abstract

Objective: a comprehensive study of the prevalence and structure of risk factors (RF) for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), daily changes in central aortic pressure and arterial stiffness in healthy women of different age groups. Materials and methods: the study involved 161 women aged 18 to 65 years with one or more CVD RFs. All volunteers filled in a questionnaire and underwent daily monitoring of blood pressure with determination of arterial stiffness and daily changes in central aortic pressure, determination of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and vascular stiffness using volume sphygmography. Results: the patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1: 52 women of young age from 18 to 30 years (23.8 ± 5.3 years); group 2: 54 women from 31 years to menopause (41 ± 5.9 years); group 3: 55 women in the postmenopausal period (55.4 ± 5.8 years). High prevalence of modifiable CVD RFs was revealed among women of different ages: smoking, non-compliance with dietary recommendations, lack of physical activity. Obstetric and gynecological disorders prevailed in younger age groups. In group 1, the studied indicators corresponded to normal across most parameters. Significant differences in central and peripheral pressure, arterial stiffness parameters, with the exception of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPRV), were revealed in group 2 in comparison with young women. A comparative analysis of groups 2 and 3 showed a significant deterioration in the parameters characterizing the degree of arterial stiffness, the contribution of the reflected wave and the associated dysfunction of the left ventricle. Conclusion: a comprehensive examination of arterial stiffness allows to identify subclinical changes in the vascular wall and evaluate their progression in women of different age groups.