PO-02 NO SEX DIFFERENCES IN THE CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSE TO MENTAL-STRESS IN OLDER ADULTS
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- 10.1016/j.artres.2016.08.010How to use a DOI?
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Mental stress elicits increases in blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness, the magnitude of which is subject to sex differences. Women tend to have blunted increases in BP compared to men that are driven by cardiac excitation, rather than changes in peripheral resistance. These sex differences have primarily been documented in younger, pre-menopausal women, and through the measurement of peripheral (i.e. brachial) BP, which may differ from responses in the central vasculature (i.e. carotid artery).
Purpose: Investigate sex differences in the cardiovascular response to mental stress among older adults.
Methods: 91 older adults (n=46 men, 68±6 yrs, BMI 27.1±3.7 kg·m−2; n=45 women, 67±7 yrs, BMI 25.3±3.6 kg·m−2) underwent cardiovascular measures at rest and during a mental stress protocol. Mental stress was induced using a 4-minute computerized incongruent Stroop task. Brachial and carotid systolic (SP), diastolic (DP) and pulse pressure (PP) were measured via a brachial oscillometric cuff and applanation tonometry, respectively. Carotid waveforms were calibrated to brachial mean pressure and DP. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and common carotid artery (CCA) elastic modulus (Ep, calibrated to carotid SP and DP) were assessed as measures of aortic and carotid stiffness, respectively.
Results: Significant group effects were detected for brachial SP, PP, HR, and PWV, with men having greater PWV, but lower BP than women (p<0.05). Significant time effects were observed for brachial and carotid pressures, HR, PWV, and CCA Ep, which increased during mental stress. No significant sex-by-time interactions were detected, indicating similar responses to mental stress between sexes.
Conclusions: Mental stress resulted in acute increases in peripheral and central blood pressure and large artery stiffness. Although men had consistently higher PWV and lower brachial BP than women at rest and during mental stress, the magnitude of the cardiovascular responses to mental stress were similar between sexes.
Funded by the Dairy Research Institute/Dairy management Inc. Grant 1154 (PI: Heffernan)
| Variable | Men (n=46) | Women (n=45) | Effects | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest | Mental-stress | Rest | Mental-stress | Sex | Time | SxT | |
| Brachial SP (mmHg) | 124 ± 12 | 139 ± 16 | 127 ± 14 | 145 ± 20 | 0.035 | 0.001 | 0.545 |
| Brachial DP (mmHg) | 79 ± 7 | 86 ± 7 | 79 ± 7 | 86 ± 9 | 0.769 | 0.001 | 0.677 |
| Brachial PP (mmHg) | 45 ± 8 | 53 ± 12 | 49 ± 9 | 59 ± 12 | 0.004 | 0.001 | 0.558 |
| Carotid SP (mmHg) | 116 ± 12 | 129 ± 17 | 118 ± 13 | 131 ± 16 | 0.306 | 0.001 | 0.769 |
| Carotid PP (mmHg) | 37 ± 9 | 43 ± 14 | 39 ± 9 | 45 ± 10 | 0.218 | 0.001 | 0.903 |
| HR (b·min−1) | 60 ± 10 | 66 ± 10 | 63 ± 9 | 70 ± 13 | 0.023 | 0.001 | 0.735 |
| PWV (m·s−1) | 10.2 ± 2.6 | 11.2 ± 2.6 | 9.3 ± 2.7 | 10.1 ± 3.1 | 0.020 | 0.023 | 0.763 |
| CCA Ep (kPa) | 100.58 ± 35.40 | 125.01 ± 50.23 | 107.89 ± 46.99 | 123.64 ± 55.57 | 0.674 | 0.005 | 0.540 |
SP, systolic pressure; DP, diastolic pressure; PP, pulse pressure; HR, heart rate; PWV, pulse wave velocity; CCA, common carotid artery; Ep, elastic modulus; SxT, sex-by-time interaction.
Cardiovascular responses to mental-stress among older men and women. (Mean ± SD).
Cite this article
TY - JOUR AU - Wesley K. Lefferts AU - Jacqueline A. Augustine AU - Kayla M. Nunemacher AU - Kevin S. Heffernan PY - 2016 DA - 2016/11/24 TI - PO-02 NO SEX DIFFERENCES IN THE CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSE TO MENTAL-STRESS IN OLDER ADULTS JO - Artery Research SP - 89 EP - 90 VL - 16 IS - C SN - 1876-4401 UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2016.08.010 DO - 10.1016/j.artres.2016.08.010 ID - Lefferts2016 ER -