Arterial hypertension and stiffness in women of different age groups and reproductive status

Objective : study of the relationship between arterial hypertension and arterial stiffness in women to identify potential markers of target organ damage and therapeutic targets of antihypertensive therapy. Materials and methods : the study involved 161 women who were divided into three groups depending on age and reproductive function. Group 1 consisted of 52 women aged 18 to 30; group 2 – 54 women aged 31 years before menopause; 3rd group – 55 women in the postmenopausal period. All women were questioned, clinical examination, determination of anthropometric data, measurement of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, determination of arterial stiffness by volumetric sphygmography, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring with assessment of aortic stiffness and characteristics of the central pulse wave. Results : 24-hour blood pressure monitoring revealed arterial hypertension in 38 (34,8%) women: 15 (27,8%) women in the 2nd group and 23 (41,8%) women in the 3rd group. Correlation analysis revealed the most significant correlations between the presence of arterial hypertension (R=0,45-0,71; p<<0,01) with central aortic pressure, double product index and average daily aortic pulse wave velocity in the aorta (PWVao), regardless of the state reproductive function. For women of reproductive age with arterial hypertension, the ambulatory vascular stiffness index (AASI: R=0,36; p=0,01) is more significant, while in the menopausal period, the arterial stiffness index (ASI: R=0,33; p=0,01). Correlation analysis did not reveal significant relationships between carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) with arterial hypertension in women of the 2nd and 3rd groups. The relationship between carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and arterial hypertension in women was confirmed by analysis of variance (p=0,007). Conclusion : Central aortic pressure, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, AASI, ASI, PWVao – direct and indirect indicators of arterial stiffness – are interconnected with the presence of arterial hypertension in women of reproductive and menopausal age. In this regard, these indicators are potential markers of target organ damage in arterial hypertension.