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Correlation between peripheral blood pressure and pulse-wave velocity values in the institutionalized elderly persons

Darko Miljkovic1, Christine Perret-Guillaume, François Alla

  • 1Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France.

American Journal of Hypertension
|February 6, 2013
PubMed

Insights

In the elderly, peripheral blood pressure and pulse-wave velocity (PWV) offer distinct information for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Further analysis in the PARTAGE study will clarify their prognostic value.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWV) is a key noninvasive indicator of arterial stiffness and a strong marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • The relationship between peripheral blood pressure (BP), PWV, and mortality in the elderly is not well understood.
  • Investigating these correlations in very elderly individuals can inform CVD diagnosis and management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the correlation between peripheral blood pressure (BP) and pulse-wave velocity (PWV) in nursing-home residents over 80 years of age.
  • To assess the potential of these measurements for diagnosing and monitoring CVD in the very elderly.
  • To explore the influence of age and daily living activities on BP-PWV correlations.

Main Methods:

  • The study involved 1,071 participants from the 2-year PARTAGE cohort study in French and Italian nursing homes.
  • Baseline measurements of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and PWV were collected.
  • Statistical analysis examined the correlations between BP parameters and PWV.

Main Results:

  • Significant but weak correlations were found between peripheral BP and PWV (r values ranging from 0.11 to 0.30).
  • A trend towards weaker correlations was observed in older individuals and those with lower activities of daily living (ADL).
  • Systolic BP, diastolic BP, and PWV appear to provide independent information in the very elderly.

Conclusions:

  • Peripheral blood pressure and pulse-wave velocity offer distinct prognostic information in very elderly individuals.
  • The PARTAGE study's longitudinal data will provide deeper insights into the predictive value of these measurements for CVD and mortality.
  • These findings may guide future strategies for CVD risk assessment in the oldest populations.
Abstract

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