Sex differences in the association between obesity and hypertension

Abstract

Background

Hypertension and obesity often coexist. There are sex differences in the mechanisms of obesity-related hypertension but the reasons for these differences are still not fully understood.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate sex differences in the development of hypertension associated with obesity.

Methods

A total of 866 men and 1022 women were selected for the study. Anthropometric measurements, including arterial pressure measurements, were performed. The plasma lipid levels were measured using an enzymatic method with commercially available kits.

Results

In both overweight and obesity, hypertensive women had more atherogenic lipid profiles and higher values of lipid accumulation product (LAP) than normotensive women. In overweight and obese men, no significant differences in lipid levels or LAP were noted between the normotensive and hypertensive groups.

Conclusion

The pathogenesis of obesity-related hypertension in women differs from that in men and tends to be associated with metabolic disorders.

Keywords:

• Hypertension
• obesity
• lipid metabolism
• lipid accumulation product (LAP)
• atherogenicity

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, (A. M. K.), upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The study is supported by the Program for Fundamental Research of RAS (2017–2020), state registration number АААА-А17-117012310157-7.