Resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity was positively correlated with augmentation index in men (r=0.46, P=0.05) but strongly inversely correlated in women (r=-0.63, P<0.01).
Cross-Sectional (n=44)
Is there a sex difference in the relationship between resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity and aortic pressure wave reflection characteristics in young adults?
Young women demonstrate an inverse relationship between sympathetic nerve activity and aortic wave reflection, contrasting with the positive relationship in men, which may contribute to cardiovascular protection in young women.
Effect estimate: Men: r=0.46; Women: r=-0.63 (augmentation index)
p-value: P=0.05 (men), P<0.01 (women)
Increased arterial stiffness is associated with higher levels of aortic wave reflection and aortic blood pressure. Recent evidence suggests a link between muscle sympathetic nerve activity and indices of arterial stiffness. Therefore, the aims of this study were to examine the relationship between resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity and characteristics of aortic pressure wave reflection and the influence of sex on these relationships. In 44 subjects (23 females and 21 males; 25 ± 1 years of age), we measured muscle sympathetic nerve activity via peroneal microneurography. In addition, noninvasive aortic pressure waveforms were synthesized from radial pressure waveforms obtained from applanation tonometry. Aortic blood pressure, augmentation index, wave reflection amplitude, and wasted left ventricular energy were calculated. Resting sympathetic activity (bursts/100 heart beats) was not associated with any of the aortic pressure wave reflection characteristics for all patients. However, there was a positive relationship between sympathetic activity and augmentation index (r = 0.46; P = 0.05) in men. Further, sympathetic activity in men was related to wave reflection amplitude (r = 0.53; P<0.05) and wasted left ventricular energy (r = 0.57; P<0.01). In contrast to men, women demonstrated strong inverse relationships between sympathetic activity and augmentation index (r = -0.63), wave reflection amplitude ( r = -0.59), and wasted left ventricular energy (r = -0.58; P<0.01 for all). Our results suggest another possible mechanism by which young women are protected against the development of cardiovascular disease.
Casey et al. (Mon,) reported a cross-sectional. Resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity was evaluated on Relationship between sympathetic activity and aortic pressure wave reflection characteristics (Men: r=0.46; Women: r=-0.63 (augmentation index), p=P=0.05 (men), P<0.01 (women)). Resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity was positively correlated with augmentation index in men (r=0.46, P=0.05) but strongly inversely correlated in women (r=-0.63, P<0.01).
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