Abstract 19485: Migrant South Asian Women Have Increased Arterial Stiffness Compared to Black and White Women Residing in the United States

Introduction: Death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) is proportionally higher in Black and South Asians (SA) residing in the United States (U.S.) compared to their White counterparts. While all other sex- ethnic groups demonstrated a decline in all cause and CVD mortality, it has recently been shown that Asian Indian women residing in the U.S. experienced an increase. Arterial Stiffness indices, such as Augmentation Index, have been associated with CVD in western populations. We hypothesized that, in a community setting, migrant SA Women in the U.S. have a greater degree of arterial stiffness than do their Black (BW) and White Women (WW) counterparts. Methods: We studied 697 volunteers residing in the metro Atlanta area from 2006-2010 that include 263 SA women (age 49±12 years), 140 BW (age 46±10 years), and 294 WW (age 48±10 years). Using radial artery tonometry (Sphygmocor©, Atcor) we calculated Augmentation Index Adjusted for heart rate (AIX) as a surrogate measure of arterial stiffness. Anthropometric, clinical and lipid levels were assessed. Women were studied as a whole and a subset of women free of traditional CVD risk factors were analyzed separately. Univariate and multivariate regression models adjusted for age, race, BMI, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking status, and lipid levels were performed. Results: SA women had a greater AIX compared to their BW and WW counterparts respectively (32 vs 25 vs 23, p<0.001). BMI was lowest in SA Women followed by WW and BW respectively (26.7 vs 26.8 vs 31.7, p<0.001). There was a similar amount of hypertension (18%) and dyslipidemia (6%) in SA women but more diabetes (23%) compared to WW (17%, 22%, 5%) and BW (29%, 16%, 6%) (p<0.001 for all). In the subset of women free of CVD risk factors, SA women still had a greater degree of arterial stiffness compared to their BW and WW counterparts (31 vs 24 vs 22, p<0.001). In the entire cohort and in the subset of women free of traditional CVD risk factors, LDL, age and race (p<0.001 for both groups) were significant independent predictors of AIX. Conclusions: Community dwelling migrant SA women have a significantly greater degree of arterial stiffness compared to their WW and BW counterparts despite having similar traditional CVD risk factors.