P11.25: Determinants of Arterial Stiffness in Young Individuals at Low Cardiovascular Risk: The Role of Autonomic Nervous System

Our aim was to study the influence of autonomic nervous system and other factors on arterial stiffness in young individuals at low cardiovascular risk. The study involved 136 healthy individuals (mean age 23.5±6.7 years, 89 men and 47 women). The examination included: cardiovascular risk factors screening, heart rate variability (HRV), vascular stiffness, and endothelial function evaluation. Stiffness index was measured at baseline (SI bl ) and after 500 mcg of sublingual trinitroglycerin (SI tng ). Endothelial function was determined as the change of resistance index after inhalation of 400 mcg of salbutamol (EF). Vascular responses were calculated from digital pulse waves (DPW) registered using photoplethysmography. Vascular parameters did not differ between men and women. On multivariate analysis age and diastolic blood pressure were the only determinants of SI bl among the conventional risk factors (R=0.37, R 2 =0.14, p