Abstract
BACKGROUND: Compared to individuals of European or African ancestry, individuals of South Asian (SA) ancestry have greater cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We aimed to compare arterial stiffness and central hemodynamics, surrogates of CVD, in adolescents and young adults (AYA) of SA, White, and African American (AA) ancestry with overweight or obesity. METHODS: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and pulse wave analysis (PWA metrics: Pulse Pressure Amplification [PPA]; Augmentation Index adjusted to heart rate of 75 [Aix75]) were performed in a cross-sectional study of 40 (18M/22F) SA, 45 (16M/29F) AA, and 44 (21M/24F) White AYA (age 12-21 years) of comparable age, sex, and BMI. Between-group comparisons of PWV, PPA, and AIx-75 were tested using linear regression models adjusted for covariates (BMI, mean arterial pressure, sex, age), as appropriate. RESULTS: As expected, BMI (kg/m2) did not differ (SA: 27.1, AA: 28.4, White: 27.4). Mean PWV (m/s) did not differ in SA (5.5), AA (5.1), and White (5.5). The typical relationship of BMI with PWV was absent in SA. PPA was lower in SA (1.45, P = 0.001) and AA (1.48, P = 0.014) vs. White (1.56). Aix75 was higher in SA (108, P = 0.004) but not in AA (105, P = 0.12) vs. White (101). CONCLUSIONS: Although their PWV did not differ, SA AYA had lower PPA and higher Aix75 compared to White counterparts. As lower PPA associates with higher likelihood of future CV events, these findings could reflect an early CVD predisposition in SA and underscore the potential value of pulse waveform analysis in studies of emerging adults, a life stage in which interventions may mitigate CVD risk.