Influence of demographic and metabolic variables on forearm blood flow and vascular conductance in individuals without overt heart disease

PURPOSE: Vascular reactivity is involved in the regulation of vascular function either in normal conditions or in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. We tested the hypothesis that vascular reactivity evaluated by forearm blood flow may vary according to demographic and metabolic variables in a cohort of individuals without any evidence of heart disease after clinical examination. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied 186 individuals (mean age 41.4 years, standard deviation 13.1 years; 95 (51%) men and 91 (49%) women. We investigated forearm blood flow and vascular conductance with venous occlusion plethysmography at baseline, during handgrip isometric exercise and during the recovery phase. Demographic and laboratory data were collected. Statistical analysis was performed with mixed linear models appropriate for repeated measurements. RESULTS: Mean forearm blood flow values in the different study conditions ranged between 1.7 ± 0.47 mL.min(−1).100 mL(−1) of tissue and 2.82 ± 1.13 mL.min(−1).100 mL(−1) of tissue. Forearm blood flow was higher in men than in women (P < 0.005) and increased as the heart rate increased during handgrip maneuver (P < 0.0001). Serum triglyceride levels were inversely related to forearm blood flow at baseline, during isometric exercise and recovery phase (P = 0.0209). Body mass index was inversely related to forearm vascular conductance at baseline, during isometric exercise and recovery phase (P = 0.0223). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that forearm blood flow and vascular conductance as a surrogate of the vascular function may be influenced by gender, heart rate, serum triglyceride levels and body mass index in individuals without overt heart disease.