Table 1 Characteristics of the studied participants

Age, years

47.1 ± 14.7

44.1 ± 16.5*

58.6 ± 14.1^†

54.8 ± 15.1*^†

Weight, kg

63.5 ± 9.5

76.6 ± 11.0*

71.4 ± 14.7^†

85.9 ± 17.4*^†

Height, m

1.60 ± 0.07

1.73 ± 0.08*

1.58 ± 0.07^†

1.71 ± 0.08*^†

Body mass index, kg/m²

24.7 ± 3.1

25.6 ± 2.8*

28.6 ± 5.3^†

29.2 ± 5.0*^†

Obesity, %

–

–

36

40*

Diabetes mellitus, %

–

–

24

25

Current smoking, %

–

–

2

5*

Dyslipidemia, %

–

–

47

41*

Physical activity, %

29

35

23^†

26^†

Alcohol use, %

10

22*

6^†

18*

Hypertension, %

–

–

83

84

Antihypertensive med, %

–

–

61

56*

Peripheral BP categories, %

 Optimal

49

28*

17

15

 Normal

27

36*

19

17

 High normal

24

36*

19

20

 Stage 1 hypertension

–

–

30

33

 Stage 2 hypertension

–

–

11

11

 Stage 3 hypertension

–

–

4

4

Heart rate, b.p.m.

73.1 ± 11.2

71.4 ± 11.4

72.7 ± 12.2

71.9 ± 13.0

Peripheral SBP, mmHg

117.3 ± 10.7

122.2 ± 9.6*

134.8 ± 19.1^†

132.8 ± 16.9*^†

Peripheral DBP, mmHg

74.8 ± 8.4

77.1 ± 7.8*

82.0 ± 12.4^†

85.5 ± 12.2*^†

Peripheral PP, mmHg

42.5 ± 9.0

45.1 ± 10.1*

52.8 ± 15.3^†

47.3 ± 13.1*^†

Peripheral MAP, mmHg

89.0 ± 8.2

92.1 ± 7.0*

99.6 ± 13.1^†

101.3 ± 12.5*^†

Central SBP, mmHg

110.1 ± 11.2

113.9 ± 10.8*

127.4 ± 19.6^†

124.9 ± 17.0*^†

Central DBP, mmHg

76.0 ± 8.5

78.8 ± 7.7*

83.3 ± 12.5^†

86.9 ± 12.3*^†

Central PP, mmHg

34.1 ± 9.4

35.1 ± 10.3

44.1 ± 15.7^†

38.0 ± 12.7*^†

Pulse wave velocity, m/s

6.9 ± 1.8

6.9 ± 1.8

8.8 ± 2.2^†

8.3 ± 2.0*^†

Augmentation index

23.0 ± 10.9

15.0 ± 10.9*

27.3 ± 12.4^†

17.5 ± 11.8*^†