Table 4

Regional aortic elastic function – obese and control groups


Control Subjects
Obese Subjects

AAO Compliance (mm2/mmHg)
2.04 ± 0.23
1.69 ± 0.26
AAO Distensibility (mmHg-1 × 10-3)
3.60 ± 0.44
3.30 ± 0.63
AAO Stiffness index
2.33 ± 0.1
2.55 ± 0.2
DAOP Compliance (mm2/mmHg)
1.40 ± 0.17
0.83 ± 0.15*
DAOP Distensibility (mmHg-1 × 10-3)
5.00 ± 0.7
3.20 ± 0.5
DAOP Stiffness index
2.06 ± 0.1
2.89 ± 0.3
DAOD Compliance (mm2/mmHg)
0.93 ± 0.18
0.56 ± 0.12
DAOD Distensibility (mmHg-1 × 10-3)
8.10 ± 0.3
3.60 ± 0.7*
DAOD Stiffness index
1.89 ± 0.3
4.00 ± 0.6

AAO, ascending aorta; DAOP, proximal descending thoracic aorta;

DAOD, descending (abdominal) aorta. Data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean. *p = 0.02, p = 0.03, p = 0.04

Robinson et al. Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2008 10:10   doi:10.1186/1532-429X-10-10