Endothelial function significantly associated with cardiovascular risk in women with sedentary occupations
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Endothelial dysfunction is an emerging risk marker for cardiovascular disease, whereas decreased exercise performance is associated with mortality risk. In 90 consecutive women (22 overweight and 42 obese), endothelial function was determined using brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation after 5 minutes of forearm ischaemia and treadmill stress testing was conducted with gas exchange analysis at peak exercise to assess cardiorespiratory fitness. The aim of the study was to determine predictors of endothelial function and potential association with cardiovascular risk in women with sedentary occupations, in whom obesity-associated risk factors may contribute to excess morbidity and mortality. There was a significant inverse correlation between brachial artery reactivity and Framingham risk score. Peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2), age, BMI, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were univariate predictors of endothelial function. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that peak VO2 was the best independent predictor of brachial artery reactivity, with age being the only other variable that reached statistical significance. According to these results, endothelial function appears to be significantly associated with cardiovascular risk in women with sedentary occupations. The data also suggest that fitter women, regardless of adiposity, have better endothelial function. In these commonly overweight or obese women, cardiorespiratory fitness, rather than conventional risk factors, appears to be the dominant predictor of endothelial function.
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