title: Limb muscle hemodynamics and arterial distensibility depend on atmospheric pressure in hypertensive men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify whether peripheral blood circulation and arterial wall distensibility are influenced by atmospheric pressure (AtPr) and to examine if their association is dependent on age and/or sex.
  
  
  METHODS
  Associations among natural AtPr levels (on the examination day as well as 1 and 2 days prior), limb muscle hemodynamics, and distensibility of conduit arteries were retrospectively examined in an observational study of 276 untreated patients with primary moderate hypertension (mean age 56.4 years, 194 men). Forearm and calf circulations at rest and 3 min after ischemia were measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. Compliance of the brachial and shank arteries was assessed by oscillometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for age, degree of hypertension, and season, correlation and multiple regression analyses revealed a season-independent but age-dependent direct correlation between the stiffness of limb arteries and AtPr levels on the examination day in men, but not women. The association weakened with the degree of hypertension, disappeared with age, and was more evident in the arms than in the legs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parameters of arterial wall distensibility in adult hypertensive men are susceptible to AtPr changes within the usually observed limits (730-770 mmHg). It is proposed that reduction of arterial wall barometric responsiveness in women and aging men is a likely mechanism underlying their meteosensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630117, Russia. mevlanic@yandex.ru
authors.forename: Vladimir N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Melnikov
authors.forename: Sergey G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Krivoschekov
authors.forename: Tamara G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Komlyagina
authors.forename: Svetlana Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Rechkina
authors.forename: Nathan S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Consedine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
keywords: Age-dependence; Arterial stiffness; Atmospheric pressure; Compliance; Season; Sex difference; Venous circulation