P59 ARTERIAL STIFFNESS AND PERIPHERAL VASCULAR RESISTANCE IN OFFSPRING OF HYPERTENSIVE PARENTS – INFLUENCE OF GENDER AND OTHER CONFOUNDERS

Aim: Established essential hypertension (EH) is associated with increased arterial stiffness and peripheral resistance, but the extent of vascular changes in persons genetically predisposed for EH is uncertain. Methods: Participants from the Danish Hypertension Prevention Project (DHyPP) (having two hypertensive parents) (n = 95, 41±1 years, 53% males) were compared to available spouses (n = 45, age 41±1 years, 43% males). The subjects had measurements of ambulatory blood pressure (BP), left ventricular mass (LVM), pulse wave velocity (PWV), central BP and augmentation index (AIx) in addition to forearm resting and minimal resistance (Rrest and Rmin). Results: DHyPP subjects with and without spouses were comparable and the DHyPP cohort, as compared to spouses, had higher 24-hour mean BP (94±1 vs. 88±1 mmHg, P < 0.01), LVM (90±2 vs. 80±2 g/m2, P < 0.01), central systolic BP (119±2 vs. 111±2 mmHg, P < 0.01) and AIx (15.1±1.2 vs. 10.5±1.7%, P < 0.01), but similar values of carotid-femoral PWV (7.3±0.1 vs. 7.1±0.2 m/s), Rrest (51±2 vs. 51±3 mmHg/ml/min/100 ml) and log Rmin (0.57±0.02 vs. 0.55±0.02 mmHg/ml/min/100 ml). AIx, Rrest and Rmin were higher in female as compared to male DHyPP participants (P < 0.01 for all) and the same was true for AIx and Rmin among spouses (P < 0.05). Using multiple linear regression analysis adjusting for gender, age, body mass index, 24-hour BP, 24-hour sodium excretion and creatinine clearance, AIx remained elevated in DHyPP subjects (3.4% [0.18; 6.60], P = 0.039). Furthermore, AIx was linearly associated with Rrest and Rmin. Conclusion: Young to middle-aged individuals genetically predisposed for EH display increased AIx, while vascular stiffness and peripheral resistance are still normal.