Race/ethnic and sex differences in large and small artery elasticity--results of the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA).
OBJECTIVE
Reduction in arterial elasticity marks progression toward cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Variability in arterial elasticity may help account for race/ethnic and gender differences in cardiovascular risk.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Whites, African Americans, Hispanics and Chinese aged 45-84 years free of clinically recognized cardiovascular disease were recruited in six US communities.


METHODS
We examined 3,316 women and 3,020 men according to race/ethnicity and sex.


METHODS
Large (LAE) and small artery (SAE) elasticity, derived from radial artery diastolic pulse wave contour registration in all subjects in a supine position using tonometry. LAE and SAE were adjusted for ethnicity, age, clinical site, height, heart rate, blood pressure, antihypertensive medication and body mass index, diabetes, smoking, and circulating lipids.


RESULTS
Much of the sex difference in arterial elasticity was explained by height. After adjustment, LAE did not differ by race/ ethnicity, but mean SAE in African Americans was 4.2 mL/mm Hg x 100 and 4.4 mL/ mm Hg x 100 in Hispanics compared to means of 4.6 mL/mm Hg x 100 in Whites, and 4.8 mL/mm Hg x 100 in Chinese.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced SAE may indicate earlier vascular disease in African Americans and Hispanics than other groups.
Duprez
Daniel A
DA
Cardiovascular Division, Medical School University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. dupre007@umn.edu
Jacobs
David R
DR
Lutsey
Pamela L
PL
Herrington
David
D
Prime
Darryl
D
Ouyang
Pamela
P
Barr
R Graham
RG
Bluemke
David A
DA
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001827:Body Height; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data