Skeletal muscle and body fat interact with blood pressure in cerebral vascular disease - Characterization study from the Chilean National Health Survey 2016-2017.

Background: peripheral (PVD) and cerebral vascular disease (CeVD) are two vascular conditions of relevance in older adults. However, there is little epidemiological studies about the body composition role (i.e., skeletal muscle mass [by calf circumference] and adiposity [by waist circumference]) in the diabetes and hypertension (HTN) prevalence in PVD and CeVD conditions. Aim: to describe the characteristics of population with PVD and CeVD by different body composition phenotypes and determine the interaction between PVD/CeVD, and body composition with the HTN and diabetes prevalence. Methods: a cross-sectional study of the Chilean population based on the National Health Survey 2016-2017. A sample size of n = 233 participants was characterized according to previous PVD and CeVD or not No-PVD/No-CeVD history. Four body composition phenotypes were described such as; low skeletal muscle mass plus high waist circumference (Lsmm-Hwc), low skeletal muscle mass plus low waist circumference (Lsmm-Lwc), high skeletal muscle mass plus high waist circumference (Hsmm-Hwc), and high skeletal muscle mass plus low waist circumference (Hsmm-Lwc), by main outcomes as systolic (SBP), and diastolic BP (DBP) and fasting glucose. Results: there was a significant interaction between body composition (Groups x CeVD), in SBP (CeVD, F (3.40), p = 0.002, ES: 0.007), where SBP in Lsmm-Lwc was higher (diff +28 mmHg) versus the Hsmm-Lwc reference group. Lsmm-Hwc (odds ratio [OR], 3.2 [1.8; 5.9], p < 0.0001), Lsmm-Lwc (OR, 1.7 [1.0; 3.1], p = 0.047), and Hsmm-Hwc (OR, 2.2 [1.5; 3.3], p < 0.0001) showed a higher risk for suffering from PVD vs. Hsmm-Lwc group. Conclusion: Chilean adults with both PVD and CeVD are shown to be aged 60, with obesity and hypertensive condition, and report lower handgrip strength in comparison with adult peers with higher muscle mass and lower waist circumference.