Clinical usefulness of the common carotid artery blood flow velocity ratio as measured by an ultrasonic quantitative flow measurement system: evaluation with respect to prevalence of ischemic heart disease

Influence of visceral fat and blood pressure on changes in blood flow velocity in non-obese individuals

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different visceral fat (VF) and blood pressure (BP) levels on changes in blood flow velocity (BFV) among non-obese subjects, using a cross-sectional study approach.

METHODS

A total of 110 putatively healthy and non-obese subjects were divided into three groups according to their level of VF and BP. Common carotid artery BFV was measured using a developed portable Doppler ultrasound measurement system.

RESULTS

The most pronounced peak systolic velocity (S1) was lower (p < 0.05) in the hypertensive group and the peak diastolic velocity (D) was significantly lower in the pre-hypertensive group than in the normotensive group. There were differences in velocity reflection and resistive indices between the hypertensive and other two BP groups. The higher VF group had significantly lower S1 and D velocities and resistive and vascular elasticity indices. By contrast, the velocity reflection index was larger in the higher VF group.

CONCLUSIONS

We confirmed that there were significant differences in the BFV among non-obese subjects who differed in level of VF and BP. This study confirms that a putatively increasing VF and BP level is associated with the development of hypertension.