Pulse pressure and aortic pulse wave are markers of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive populations

Pulse pressure (PP) and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) are significant markers of cardiovascular risk, but a similar role for central wave reflections has never been investigated.

To determine the factors influencing PP, PWV, and carotid wave reflections, a cohort of 1087 patients with essential hypertension either treated or untreated was studied cross-sectionally. Atherosclerotic alterations (AA) were defined on the basis of clinical events and PWV evaluated from an automatic device. The carotid amplification index (CAI), a quantitative estimation of the magnitude of central wave reflections, was measured noninvasively from pulse wave analysis using radial and carotid aplanation tonometry.

In the overall population, age and mean arterial pressure represented 30.4%, 32.3%, and 5.6% of the variance of, respectively PP, PWV, and CAI. For the latter, body weight and heart rate represented 22.9% of variability. On the basis of logistic regression, AA were associated, in addition to age, plasma creatinine and HDL cholesterol levels, and tobacco consumption to three mechanical factors, increased PP, increased PWV, and low diastolic blood pressure, but not by CAI (adjusted odds ratio: 1.00; 95% confidence intervals: 0.99-1.01).

In cross-sectional hypertensive populations, PP and PWV, but not CAI, are significantly and independently associated with cardiovascular amplications.