Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among firefighters. The purpose
of the present study was to examine the effect of excess body weight on arterial structure
and function and blood pressure (BP) in relatively young, apparently healthy, firefighters.
The body mass index, brachial BP, carotid BP, aortic BP, radial augmentation index,
central pulse wave velocity, forearm blood flow, forearm vasodilatory capacity, carotid
arterial compliance, carotid intima-media thickness, and brachial flow-mediated dilation
were assessed in 110 firefighters (aged 29.7 ± 8.0 years). The group was divided into
equal tertiles according to the body mass index (<25.9, 25.9 to 29.4, and ≥29.5 kg/m2). Group differences in hemodynamics, anthropometrics, microvascular function, and
macrovascular structure and function were tested using multivariate analysis of variance.
The obese group was older, heavier, and had a larger waist circumference compared
to the lean and overweight groups (p <0.05). The overweight group was also older,
heavier, and had a larger waist circumference than the lean group (p <0.05). Compared
to the lean group, the overweight and obese groups had a greater systolic BP (p <0.05).
The obese group also had a significantly greater mean arterial BP and carotid systolic
BP than the lean group (p <0.05). The obese group had greater β stiffness and elastic
modulus compared to the lean and overweight groups (p <0.05), but no group differences
were found in endothelial function. In conclusion, in a population of relatively young
firefighters, an increased body mass index was associated with elevated peripheral
BP and arterial stiffness, with no apparent decrements in endothelial function.
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: September 28, 2009
Accepted:
July 2,
2009
Received in revised form:
July 2,
2009
Received:
May 1,
2009
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
