Seasonal hematocrit variation and health risks in the adult population of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

C Makena Hightower1, Joyce D Hightower2, Beatriz Y Salazar Vázquez1,3, Marcos Intaglietta11Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; 2Group de Reflection, Actions et Etude de Culture, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; 3Fac...

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Main Authors: C Makena Hightower, Joyce D Hightower, Beatriz Y Salazar Vázquez, et al
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2009-11-01
Series:Vascular Health and Risk Management
Online Access:http://www.dovepress.com/seasonal-hematocrit-variation-and-health-risks-in-the-adult-population-a3738
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author C Makena Hightower
Joyce D Hightower
Beatriz Y Salazar Vázquez
et al
author_facet C Makena Hightower
Joyce D Hightower
Beatriz Y Salazar Vázquez
et al
author_sort C Makena Hightower
collection DOAJ
description C Makena Hightower1, Joyce D Hightower2, Beatriz Y Salazar Vázquez1,3, Marcos Intaglietta11Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; 2Group de Reflection, Actions et Etude de Culture, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; 3Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango, Durango, MéxicoAbstract: Hematocrit (Hct) as an indicator of blood viscosity and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were assessed according to the season in adult participants of health screenings conducted throughout Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Data was collected at the end of summer (April) and the end of winter (August) and identified by gender. Male Hcts in August were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than in April (48.3% ± 4.2% and 45.7% ± 2.3%, respectively) while male MAP (85.0 ± 8.4 mm Hg) was identical to that recorded in April (85.4 ± 7.7 mm Hg). August female Hcts (41.4% ± 3.1%) were statistically higher than those recorded in April (39.6% ± 1.9%, P = 0.001), MAP being 82.3 ± 7.3 vs 87.9 ± 6.6 mm Hg, respectively (P = 0.0001). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, body mass indices, ages, and personal and familial medical histories of the August and April groups were not significantly different. This study offers further support for the assertion that the relationship between blood viscosity and pressure of a healthy population shows that increased Hct, and therefore increased blood viscosity is associated with lowered MAP, and presumably peripheral vascular resistance.Keywords: blood pressure, African adults, blood viscosity, cardiovascular, shear stress
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spelling doaj.art-fe5ff46eb35c41cc8d802ed8e0ca7be22022-12-21T19:52:38ZengDove Medical PressVascular Health and Risk Management1176-63441178-20482009-11-012009default10011005Seasonal hematocrit variation and health risks in the adult population of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of CongoC Makena HightowerJoyce D HightowerBeatriz Y Salazar Vázquezet alC Makena Hightower1, Joyce D Hightower2, Beatriz Y Salazar Vázquez1,3, Marcos Intaglietta11Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; 2Group de Reflection, Actions et Etude de Culture, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; 3Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango, Durango, MéxicoAbstract: Hematocrit (Hct) as an indicator of blood viscosity and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were assessed according to the season in adult participants of health screenings conducted throughout Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Data was collected at the end of summer (April) and the end of winter (August) and identified by gender. Male Hcts in August were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than in April (48.3% ± 4.2% and 45.7% ± 2.3%, respectively) while male MAP (85.0 ± 8.4 mm Hg) was identical to that recorded in April (85.4 ± 7.7 mm Hg). August female Hcts (41.4% ± 3.1%) were statistically higher than those recorded in April (39.6% ± 1.9%, P = 0.001), MAP being 82.3 ± 7.3 vs 87.9 ± 6.6 mm Hg, respectively (P = 0.0001). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, body mass indices, ages, and personal and familial medical histories of the August and April groups were not significantly different. This study offers further support for the assertion that the relationship between blood viscosity and pressure of a healthy population shows that increased Hct, and therefore increased blood viscosity is associated with lowered MAP, and presumably peripheral vascular resistance.Keywords: blood pressure, African adults, blood viscosity, cardiovascular, shear stresshttp://www.dovepress.com/seasonal-hematocrit-variation-and-health-risks-in-the-adult-population-a3738
spellingShingle C Makena Hightower
Joyce D Hightower
Beatriz Y Salazar Vázquez
et al
Seasonal hematocrit variation and health risks in the adult population of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Vascular Health and Risk Management
title Seasonal hematocrit variation and health risks in the adult population of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
title_full Seasonal hematocrit variation and health risks in the adult population of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
title_fullStr Seasonal hematocrit variation and health risks in the adult population of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
title_full_unstemmed Seasonal hematocrit variation and health risks in the adult population of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
title_short Seasonal hematocrit variation and health risks in the adult population of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
title_sort seasonal hematocrit variation and health risks in the adult population of kinshasa democratic republic of congo
url http://www.dovepress.com/seasonal-hematocrit-variation-and-health-risks-in-the-adult-population-a3738
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