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Determinants of aortic input impedance in two ethnic populations: impact of obesity

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 21, pages 747–749 (2007)Cite this article

The influence of obesity indices and adipokines on aortic input impedance ( Z c ) was determined in 102 African and 115 Caucasian women from South Africa aged 20–55 years after stratification into lean, overweight and obese groups. Z c decreased significantly with increasing weight in both populations, but overweight and obese African women exhibited higher values than their Caucasian counterparts. Multiple regression analysis confirmed weight as major contributor to Z c independently of ethnicity followed by aortic compliance ( C w ), age, leptin and pulse pressure.

Aortic input impedance (Zc) integrates three measures of arterial stiffness that represent determinants of aortic-cushioning function such as aortic distensibility (compliance), total peripheral resistance (TPR) and pulse wave reflection (reflectance).1 It is evidenced that aortic input impedance is lower in healthy subjects than in persons with coronary artery disease1 and that it increases with aging.2 Although there is some indication of positive associations between Zc and body fatness,2 the effect of obesity on Zc is not clear. The current study, therefore, aimed to assess the role of obesity and adipokines on Zc in the two ethnic populations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Subject Group Physiology, School for Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, North-West University Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa

    M Reimann, A E Schutte, R Schutte, L Malan, H W Huisman, J M van Rooyen & N T Malan

  2. Department of Endocrinopathies and Metabolic Diseases, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    P E H Schwarz

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  1. M Reimann
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  2. A E Schutte
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  3. R Schutte
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  4. L Malan
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  5. H W Huisman
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  6. J M van Rooyen
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  7. P E H Schwarz
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  8. N T Malan
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Correspondence to M Reimann.

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Reimann, M., Schutte, A., Schutte, R. et al. Determinants of aortic input impedance in two ethnic populations: impact of obesity. J Hum Hypertens 21, 747–749 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002224

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