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Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Cf-PWV) to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
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Published on: May 3, 2018

[Pulse pressure and target organs damage in elderly patients with arterial hypertension]

A A Dzizinskiĭ, K V Protasov

    Advances in Gerontology = Uspekhi Gerontologii
    |October 24, 2008
    PubMed

    Insights

    Daily pulse pressure (PP-24) in older adults with hypertension is linked to heart and blood vessel changes, but not kidney issues. This finding highlights PP-24 as a key indicator for cardiovascular complications.

    Area of Science:

    • Cardiology
    • Gerontology
    • Vascular Medicine

    Context:

    • Arterial hypertension is a prevalent condition in the elderly population.
    • Assessing cardiovascular risk factors in older adults is crucial for preventative care.
    • Understanding specific pressure parameters beyond standard blood pressure readings is an active area of research.

    Purpose:

    • To evaluate the significance of daily pulse pressure (PP-24) as a marker for cardiac, vascular, and renal affection in elderly patients with arterial hypertension.
    • To investigate the association between PP-24 and specific cardiovascular and renal pathologies in this demographic.

    Summary:

    • A study involving 260 elderly patients (average age 73.3 years) with arterial hypertension analyzed the role of daily pulse pressure (PP-24).
    • Multiple logistic regression revealed that PP-24, independent of systolic or diastolic blood pressure, correlated with left ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular enlargement, increased aortic stiffness, and carotid plaque.
    • However, morphofunctional changes in peripheral vessels and kidneys were found to be independent of PP-24 levels.

    Impact:

    • Daily pulse pressure (PP-24) serves as a significant independent marker for left ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular enlargement, aortic stiffness, and carotid plaque in elderly hypertensive patients.
    • The findings suggest that PP-24 monitoring may aid in identifying individuals at higher risk for specific cardiovascular complications.
    • Pulse pressure assessment offers valuable insights into subclinical cardiovascular damage in older adults with hypertension, distinct from traditional blood pressure metrics.

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