Cerebral infarction predicted by home arterial stiffness index

In a recent study, home arterial stiffness index predicted cerebral infarction independent of pulse pressure, mean arterial pressure and day-to-day BP variability in men and normotensive participants.

To calculate home arterial stiffness index (HASI), participants measured BP at home every morning for a median of 26 days. Questionnaires including questions about medical history, medications, and smoking and drinking habits were administered, and trained nurses collected anthropometric data at public health centers. Defined study endpoints included stroke, cerebral infarction and hemorrhagic stroke; researchers only considered the first event if multiple events occurred.

The study included 2,377 participants. During a median follow-up of 13.8 years, a total of 191 (8%) cerebral infarctions and 75 (3.2%) hemorrhagic strokes occurred. The mean HASI was 0.60 units. According to the results, an increase in HASI of 1 SD was associated with an increased HR for cerebral infarction in all participants (HR=1.19; P=.034), men (HR=1.37; P=.002) and normotensive participants (HR=1.45; P=.006); this association was not observed in women or hypertensive participants (P=.56).

“One important role of home BP measurement is early recognition of onset of hypertension in normotensive subjects who are at risk of developing hypertension,” researchers wrote in the study abstract. “HASI provides additional benefits for such subjects.”

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

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