Currently, results of many studies indicate a potential relationship between obesity and hyperuricemia, but the impact of this correlation on vascular stiffness has been insufficiently studied.
OBJECTIVE
To assess vessel wall condition and uric acid (UA) level in men with low and moderate cardiovascular risk depending on the body mass index (BMI).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study included 333 men aged between 25 and 69 years with normal blood pressure who subjectively considered themselves to be perfectly healthy, had no complaints and were not taking medications on a regular basis. They were divided into three groups depending on the BMI: the 1st group (n=52) — individuals with normal BMI, the 2nd group (n=185) — obese individuals, the 3rd group (n=96) — individuals with class I—III obesity. Patients of the 2nd and 3rd groups were divided into subgroups depending on the UA level: subgroups 2a and 2b — 149 and 36 persons and subgroups 3a and 3b — 57 and 39 persons with UA levels of ≤7.2 mg/dL and >7.2 mg/dL, respectively. The set of surveys included examination, calculation of anthropometric measures, photoplethysmography (PPG) on the index finger of the left hand, volumetric sphygmography, venous blood collection for laboratory tests as well as 24-hour blood pressure monitoring.
RESULTS
It has been found that the UA level increased in direct proportion to the BMI. The waist circumference was statistically significantly larger in patients with obesity and hyperuricemia compared to patients with obesity and normal UA level (p=0.026). Men with obesity had a larger stiffness index of terminal muscular arteries and distributive arterioles (p=0.050), pulse wave duration (p<0.01) as well as CAVI (p=0.050) and systolic pressure in the aorta (p=0.008) values in relation to obese males. In addition, the oxygen saturation level decreased as the body mass of men increased, which contributed to statistically significant differences between the three analyzed groups for these indicators (p<0.01). The duration of systole in men with normal body weight was lower than in men with overweight and obesity (p=0.029 and p<0.001, respectively). No differences within the analyzed subgroups on PPG parameters have been revealed (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
Overweight and obesity in men contribute to reduced vessel wall elasticity, which increases the risk of cardiovascular events. Probably, the increase of uric acid level observed in overweight and obese men plays an important role in the development of vascular dysfunction.
