Hemorheological disturbances, metabolic parameters and blood pressure in different types of obesity.
Body fat distribution characterized by a high waist/hip ratio (WHR) has been described as a risk factor in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and associated mortality. Hemorheological changes have been shown to accompany several risk factors. Gynoid and android obese women were compared in the present study with respect to hemorheological and metabolic variables and blood pressure. The android obese women had a significantly higher hematocrit and red blood cell count and showed higher blood viscosity at both high and low shear rates than women with the gynoid obesity type. Blood pressure was also higher in the android group. No significant differences were shown in concentration of cholesterol or triglycerides in serum nor in the microrheological properties of the red blood cells. The filterability index, which mirrors the number of rigid erythrocytes in the blood, was found to correlate with the plasma insulin concentration (r = 0.78, P less than 0.05) in the android but not in the gynoid obese women. It is concluded that the pathological changes in blood rheology observed in the android obese women may contribute to the high rate of cardiovascular events and associated mortality reported in this type of obesity.
Wysocki
M
M
Department of Medical Rehabilitation, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
Krotkiewski
M
M
Braide
M
M
Bagge
U
U
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D001823:Body Composition; D001824:Body Constitution; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
D007328:Insulin