Arterial stiffness parameters in obesity and normal weight hypertensive patients after COVID-19

Aim. To study and compare the functional state of the vascular wall (pulse wave velocity, cardiac-ankle vascular index) in obesity arterial hypertension patients and in arterial hypertension patients with normal body weight 1 month after a new coronavirus infection in moderate to severe form. Materials and methods. The study included 87 patients of both sexes, aged from 18 to 55 years, from which three groups were formed: the first group included people with AH and normal body weight (BMI<25 kg/m²) who had undergone COVID-19 within a month, the second group included people with AH and obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m²) who had undergone COVID-19 within a month, the control group consisted of 20 people with AH and obesity without COVID-19. The parameters of height, weight, waist circumference, and BMI were assessed in all subjects. The parameters of lipid profile, glucose level were determined. All patients underwent office measurement of systolic and diastolic BP. Arterial stiffness was determined according to CAVI (Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index), brachialankle pulse wave velocity – PWVba (VaSera 1000), aortic pulse wave velocity – PWVao (EnVisor ultrasound system). Results. PWVao significantly differed between groups 1 and 2 (p<0,001), in the group of patients with AH and obesity PWV was 6,26 (5,17-7,26) m/sec, in the group without obesity – 4,50 (4,21-5,10) m/sec. Statistically significant differences were found in the parameters of ABIr (p=0,020), in the level of CAVI: R-CAVI (p=0,012) and R-tb (p=0,026), L-CAVI (p=0,010) and L-tb (p=0,007). Statistically significant differences in RHR were found between study groups 1 and 2 (p=0,005). Conclusion. The contribution of obesity to vascular wall health appears to be more significant than that of COVID-19. However, worsening arterial stiffness scores lead to worse COVID-19 outcomes, which calls for a more thorough approach to diagnosing vascular wall health early in the hospital setting. Non-invasive assessment of arterial stiffness may help to determine those at risk of clinical deterioration.