Young Hispanic women had greater vascular reactivity (11.7% vs 8.7%, P=0.011) and lower central pulse pressure than non-Hispanic White women, suggesting lower subclinical CVD risk.
Cross-Sectional (n=56)
Does Hispanic ethnicity impact vascular reactivity and central hemodynamic load compared to non-Hispanic White ethnicity in young women?
Young Hispanic women demonstrate greater vascular reactivity and lower central pulsatile hemodynamic load than non-Hispanic White women, suggesting a more favorable subclinical cardiovascular risk profile that may contribute to the Hispanic mortality paradox.
Absolute Event Rate: 11.7% vs 8.7%
p-value: p=0.011
BACKGROUND: The incidence of younger women being hospitalized from cardiovascular disease (CVD) events is on the rise. Hispanic women are generally thought to have higher CVD risk factor burden than non-Hispanic White (NHW) women yet Hispanic Americans have lower mortality from CVD. Traditional measures of CVD may not accurately capture CVD risk in Hispanic Americans. Hence, the purpose of this study was to assess the impact of ethnicity on vascular reactivity and central hemodynamic load to gain insight into subclinical CVD risk in young women. METHODS: Brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD), low-flow mediated constriction (L-FMC), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), and pulse wave analysis (from synthesized aortic pressure waveforms) were measured in 25 Hispanic women and 31 NHW women aged between 18-35 years. FMD and L-FMC were combined to provide an index of total vessel reactivity. RESULTS: NHW and Hispanic women did not differ in age or traditional CVD risk factors (P>.05 for all). Compared with NHW women, Hispanic women had greater vascular reactivity (8.7±4.1 vs 11.7±4.1 %, P=.011), lower central pulse pressure (28±5 vs 24±3 mm Hg, P=.001) and lower pressure from wave reflections (12±2 vs 10±1 mm Hg, P=.001). There were no differences in cfPWV between NHW women and Hispanic women (5.4±0.7 vs 5.3±0.7 m/s, P=.73). CONCLUSION: Young Hispanic women have greater vascular reactivity and lower central pulsatile hemodynamic load compared with NHW women, suggesting lower subclinical CVD risk.
Pagán-Lassalle et al. (Thu,) conducted a cross-sectional in Subclinical cardiovascular disease risk (n=56). Hispanic ethnicity vs. Non-Hispanic White ethnicity was evaluated on Vascular reactivity (p=0.011). Young Hispanic women had greater vascular reactivity (11.7% vs 8.7%, P=0.011) and lower central pulse pressure than non-Hispanic White women, suggesting lower subclinical CVD risk.