Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
08:50

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Published on: June 16, 2014

Elevated pulse pressure is associated with low renal function in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension

Jacobien C Verhave1, Pierre Fesler, Guilhem du Cailar

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, CHU Montpellier, France.

Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)
|March 2, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Pulse pressure, a marker of arterial stiffening, is linked to declining kidney function in older adults. This study found a significant inverse relationship between pulse pressure and glomerular filtration rate in patients over 60 with isolated systolic hypertension.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Cardiology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Pulse pressure is a recognized predictor of cardiovascular events.
  • Arterial stiffening, leading to elevated pulse pressure, is a common aspect of aging.
  • The impact of pulse pressure on renal aging requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between pulse pressure and renal function in patients with never-treated isolated systolic hypertension.
  • To determine if pulse pressure influences the age-related decline in glomerular filtration rate.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 212 patients with isolated systolic hypertension was studied.
  • Glomerular filtration rate and effective renal plasma flow were measured using technetium 99m (99mTc)-DTPA and 131I-ortho-iodohippurate infusions.
  • Linear regression models were used to analyze the relationship between pulse pressure and renal function across different age groups.

Main Results:

  • An inverse relationship between pulse pressure and glomerular filtration rate was observed in the overall population, but this did not persist after age adjustment.
  • This inverse relationship was significant only in patients aged 60 years and older.
  • The association remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, mean arterial pressure, and cardiovascular risk factors (P=0.006).

Conclusions:

  • Elevated pulse pressure, indicative of arterial stiffening, may detrimentally affect age-related decline in glomerular filtration rate in patients over 60 with isolated systolic hypertension.
  • Pulse pressure may represent a specific risk factor for renal aging in this population.

More Related Videos

Improved Renal Denervation Mitigated Hypertension Induced by Angiotensin II Infusion08:35

Improved Renal Denervation Mitigated Hypertension Induced by Angiotensin II Infusion

Published on: May 26, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion01:18

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion

In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure01:18

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology01:29

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology

Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...
Hypertension I: Introduction01:28

Hypertension I: Introduction

Hypertension is a widespread, long-term medical condition where blood pressure in the arteries remains elevated. It is characterized by systolic blood pressure readings of 130 mm Hg or above or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) readings of 80 mm Hg or higher. Unmanaged hypertension poses significant health risks, making the distinction between primary (or essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension crucial, as their management and implications vary.Primary HypertensionPrimary hypertension,...
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients01:15

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...