Endothelial dysfunction in young pre-hypertension and its influencing factors

Objective: To investigate the endothelial dysfunction in pre-hypertension and its influencing factors. Methods: A total of 373 youth were divided as the subjects into hypertension group (HBP group), pre-hypertension group (PHT group) and normal blood pressure group (NBP group). Endothelial function was assessed based on carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Results: IMT and baPWV in PHT group were higher than those in NBP group (P<0.05), but did not reach the significant difference when compared with HBP group (P>0.05). Compared with HBP, the levels of FMD in PHT group significantly increased (P<0.05); however, no difference was observed in comparison with NBP group (P>0.05). In the early stage of hypertension, diastolic BP (β=-0.120, P<0.05) and body mass index (β=-0.115, P<0.05) were negatively correlated with FMD; diastolic BP (β=0.146, P<0.05), 2-hour glucose (β=0.147, P<0.05), high-density lipoprotein cholestrol (β=0.150, P<0.05), and waist-hip ratio (β=0.126, P<0.05) showed a positive correlation with IMT. baPWV was correlated with systolic BP (β=0.358, P<0.01), waist circumference (β=0.254, P<0.05), fasting glucose (β=0.155, P<0.05), postprandial 2 h blood glucose (β=0.152, P<0.05), uric acid (β=0.206, P<0.05), and C-reactive protein (β=0.099, P<0.05). Conclusion: Our study shows that endothelial dysfunction may exist in the pre-hypertensive young, and several cardiovascular risks contribute to its development in the early stage of hypertension.