Study of indicators of arterial stiffness in young people depending on ‘classical’ and ‘modern’ risk factors

Abstract

Objective. To identify ‘classical’ and ‘modern’ risk factors (RFs) in young people aged 18–25 years in a student environment and evaluate their impact on arterial wall stiffness using non-invasive examination methods.Materials and methods. 171 students of a humanitarian university aged 18–25 years old were examined, of which 52.1 % were girls and 47.9 % were boys. An anonymous survey was conducted to identify the main risk factors. The method of volumetric sphygmography and highly sensitive compression oscillometry was used to assess the state of the vascular wall.Results. Against the background of ‘classic’ risk factors (low physical activity – 61.9 %, essential arterial hypertension [AH] – 29.8 %, aggravated heredity for hypertension – 18.3 %, overweight – 14.0 %, obesity – 8.5 %, cigarette smoking – 3.0 %), ‘modern’ RFs were identified: a combination of hookah and cigarette smoking – 31.0 %, use of electronic cigarettes – 17.0 %, use of energy drinks – 25.3 %. In students with the presence of ‘modern’ PR, the values of pulse wave velocity (PWV) were obtained – 8.4 ± 2.7 m/s, relative to the PWV of students without PR 5.1 ± 0.6 m/s (p = 0.002). It was found that the relative risk of an increase in PWV with the combined use of hookah and cigarettes increases by 52.1 times (95 % CI: 11.2–242.1 at χ2 = 37.987; p = 0.001), with the use of energy drinks by 27.4 times (95 % CI: 6.8–111.0 at χ2 = 29.328; p = 0.001), when using electronic cigarettes by 2.6 times (95 % CI: 1.3–5.2 at χ2 = 6.496; p = 0.011).Conclusions. Students aged 18–25 years showed a high adherence to modern risk factors (a combination of hookah and cigarette smoking, energy drinks, use of electronic cigarettes) that lead to a violation of the elastic properties of the vascular wall, which indicates endothelial dysfunction.