The effect of gender differences in fat distribution on the relationship between obesity index and arterial stiffness in patients with hypertension

Objective To analyze the gender differences in the correlation between different obesity types and arterial stiffness in patients with hypertension. Methods A total of 304 patients with hypertension were selected from Xuzhou Central Hospital from 2014 to 2018. Their weight, height, waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC) were measured. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) are calculated according to body weight, height, WC and HC. Arterial stiffness was expressed by carotid-femoral pulse wave (cfPWV). Linear regression model was used to analyze the relationship between different types of obesity and arterial stiffness. Results Regardless of gender, cfPWV was independently correlated with WC (β=0.028, P<0.05) and WHtR (β=6.076, P<0.05). In males, WHtR was positively correlated with cfPWV (β=6.692, P<0.05), while in females, only HC was correlated with cfPWV (β=0.069, P<0.05). Conclusions WC, WHtR and cfPWV are positively correlated in the total population. Gender differences affect the correlation between obesity index and arterial stiffness in patients with hypertension. HC is positively correlated with cfPWV in female with hypertension. WHtR is better correlated with arterial stiffness in male with hypertension.