Noninvasive evaluation of vascular wall stiffness in healthy adolescents with risk factors for hypertension

The study involved 80 healthy children with risk factors (RF) for hypertension: smoking, family history, and the combination of these risk factors. Control group consisted of 30 healthy adolescents without risk factors. Patients aged from 13 to 17 years (mean age of 15±0.31 years). The following basic indicators of vascular wall stiffness were determined: PWV, CAVI, and SAI. There was a significant increase in the indicators characterizing the rigidity of the vascular wall in all comparison groups relative to the control. In all adolescents included in comparison groups, initial changes in vascular wall stiffness were present requiring assigning them in group of risk for arterial hypertension and administration of preventive measures at pre-clinical stage of diseases.