Blood Pressure and Age Are the Main Determinants of Aortic Stiffness
were responsible for 34% of the change in aortic stiffness. All other factors were attributed to 4% of the change [4] . In another study, obesity was identified as a major factor responsible for the prevalence of hypertension [5] . The relation between obesity and aortic stiffness was most probably due to progressively increasing blood pressure subsequent to obesity. Aortic stiffness increased due to the physical distending effect of blood pressure on the arterial wall. Blood pressure and age were the main parameters that affected aortic stiffness. The effect of BMI on stiffness was related to the higher blood pressures that were observed in patients with a higher BMI. When factors related to aortic stiffness are evaluated, adjustments according to blood pressure must be made.