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Seasonal variations in endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation and endothelium-independent nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation

Hypertension Research volume 47, pages 910–920 (2024)Cite this article

Abstract

Cardiovascular mortality has been shown to vary seasonally. However, it has not been determined whether vascular function is affected by the season. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations of vascular function with season and outdoor temperature. Between April 2007 and March 2022, measurements of flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery as an index of endothelial function and nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation (NID) as an index of endothelium-independent vasodilation were performed in 2190 subjects. There was no significant seasonal difference in FMD (spring, 3.9 ± 3.1%; summer, 3.5 ± 3.0%; fall, 3.7 ± 3.0%; winter, 3.6 ± 3.2%; P = 0.14). There was no significant correlation between FMD and daily mean outdoor temperature (r = −0.02, P = 0.25). Multivariate analyses revealed that neither season (β = −0.020, P = 0.31) nor outdoor temperature (β = 0.005, P = 0.81) was significantly associated with FMD after adjustment for other confounding factors. There were significant seasonal differences in NID (spring, 12.8 ± 6.3%; summer, 12.0 ± 6.1%; fall, 11.7 ± 6.1%; winter, 12.3 ± 5.9%; P = 0.02). However, multivariate analysis revealed that there was no significant association between season and NID after adjustment for other confounding factors (β = −0.012, P = 0.56). There was no significant correlation between NID and daily outdoor mean temperature (r = −0.03, P = 0.17). Multivariate analysis revealed that outdoor temperature was not significantly associated with NID (β = −0.006, P = 0.78). There was no significant association of FMD or NID with season or outdoor temperature, suggesting that it is not necessary to take into account the effects of season and outdoor temperature on vascular function when interpreting the results of FMD and NID measurements. Public trials registry number: UMIN000039512.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Megumi Wakisaka, Miki Kumiji, Ki-ichiro Kawano, and Satoko Michiyama for their excellent secretarial assistance.

Funding

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan (18590815 and 21590898 to YH) and a Grant in Aid of Japanese Arteriosclerosis Prevention Fund (to YH).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Regenerative Medicine, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan

    Tatsuya Maruhashi, Shinji Kishimoto, Takahiro Harada, Aya Mizobuchi, Shunsuke Tanigawa, Farina Mohamad Yusoff & Yukihito Higashi

  2. Division of Regeneration and Medicine, Medical Center for Translational and Clinical Research, Hiroshima University Hospital, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan

    Masato Kajikawa & Yukihito Higashi

  3. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan

    Takayuki Yamaji, Yu Hashimoto & Yukiko Nakano

  4. Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan

    Kazuaki Chayama

  5. Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan

    Ayumu Nakashima

  6. Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of general Rehabilitation, Hiroshima International University, 555-36, Kurosegakuendai, Higashihiroshima, Japan

    Chikara Goto

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  1. Tatsuya Maruhashi
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  6. Yu Hashimoto
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  13. Chikara Goto
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  14. Yukihito Higashi
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Correspondence to Yukihito Higashi.

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Maruhashi, T., Kajikawa, M., Kishimoto, S. et al. Seasonal variations in endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation and endothelium-independent nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation. Hypertens Res 47, 910–920 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-023-01504-7

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