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Pulse wave velocity estimates BP progression, hypertension in young adults
Pulse wave velocity may be used to predict hypertension risk in young adults by predicting the development of BP, according to a study published in Hypertension.
“[Pulse wave velocity] could, therefore, provide a valuable additional tool for future hypertension risk evaluation,” Teemu Koivistoinen, of the department of clinical physiology at University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital in Finland, and colleagues wrote.
Researchers analyzed data from 1,449 patients (mean age, 38 years; 56% women) aged 30 to 45 years with available pulse wave velocity measurements from 2007 and BP measurements from 2011. Data from a subgroup of 1,183 patients (mean age, 37 years; 58% women) who were normotensive in 2007 were also reviewed.
The link between pulse wave velocity and BP measurements were analyzed in both groups, and the link between pulse wave velocity and incident hypertension was only reviewed in the subgroup.
Pulse wave velocity measurements that were taken in 2007 were independently and directly linked to the systolic and diastolic BP measurements from 2011 in both groups (P for both < .001).
The second highest predictor of incident hypertension in 2011 was the pulse wave velocity measurements from 2007 (OR = 1.96; 95% CI, 1.51-2.57).
An extended prediction model with a variety of factors including pulse wave velocity had a higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve compared with a model without pulse wave velocity (0.833 vs. 0.809; P = .04). The continuous net reclassification improvement for the extended prediction model was 59.4% (P < .001).
“A recent scientific statement by the American Heart Association suggests that arterial stiffness represents a cause rather than a consequence of hypertension,” Koivistoinen and colleagues wrote. “The present study supported this view by showing that [pulse wave velocity] is directly and independently associated with blood pressure progression and incident hypertension among young adults.” – by Darlene Dobkowski
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.