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A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology
09:33

A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology

Published on: February 7, 2015

Measures of total stress-induced blood pressure responses are associated with vascular damage

Pietro Nazzaro1, Teresa Seccia, Vito Vulpis

  • 1Department of Clinical Methodology and Medico-Surgical Technology, Section of Internal Medicine and Hypertension, University of Bari, Policlinico Consorziale, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. nazzaro@htn.uniba.it

American Journal of Hypertension
|September 27, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Total blood pressure stress response, measured as area-under-the-curve (AUC), is strongly linked to hypertension and vascular damage. This comprehensive measure, including baseline and recovery, is more effective than other reactivity assessments for understanding cardiovascular health.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Hypertension Research
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular reactivity assessment for hypertension and vascular damage remains debated.
  • Existing methods for measuring cardiovascular response lack consensus.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between hypertension, vascular damage, and various cardiovascular response measures.
  • To determine the most effective method for assessing cardiovascular reactivity in relation to hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 40 normal-high blood pressure individuals and 80 untreated hypertensive patients.
  • Utilized postischemic forearm vascular resistance (mFVR) to categorize hypertensive subjects based on vascular damage.
  • Assessed reactivity using Stroop and cold pressor tests, measuring blood pressure, heart rate, and vascular resistance, with reactivity quantified via area-under-the-curve (AUC).

Main Results:

  • Area-under-the-curve (AUC) for systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mFVR increased progressively across study groups.
  • AUC of SBP, DBP, forearm blood flow, and resistance showed the highest correlation with vascular damage.
  • Multiple regression analysis identified AUC of SBP and forearm blood flow as significant predictors of vascular damage.

Conclusions:

  • Total blood pressure stress response, quantified as AUC across baseline and recovery phases, demonstrates a significant association with hypertension and vascular damage.
  • This comprehensive AUC measure is superior to other reactivity assessments in predicting hypertension and vascular damage.
Abstract

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