Arterial Stiffness and Hypertension - Which Comes First?

Monica Ecobici1, Claudiu Stoicescu1

  • 1Clinic of Internal Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania.

Maedica
|December 9, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Arterial stiffness is a key predictor of cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients. This review explores its mechanisms, assessment, and therapeutic strategies for better hypertension management.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Medicine
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Arterial hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor.
  • Arterial stiffness independently predicts cardiovascular disease in hypertensive individuals.
  • Risk factors for hypertension and arterial stiffness share common pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review novel mechanisms, assessment methods, clinical aspects, and therapeutic implications of arterial stiffness.
  • To emphasize the importance of assessing arterial stiffness in hypertension management.
  • To highlight the role of comorbidities in arterial stiffness progression.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on arterial stiffness in hypertension.
  • Discussion of pulse wave velocity (PWV) as the gold standard for assessment.
  • Exploration of factors influencing arterial stiffness development and progression.

Main Results:

  • Arterial stiffness is a significant prognostic factor for cardiovascular events in hypertension.
  • European Society of Hypertension recognized the importance of assessing arterial stiffness in 2007.
  • Multiple factors, including comorbidities like diabetes and chronic kidney disease, contribute to arterial stiffness.

Conclusions:

  • Arterial stiffness assessment is crucial in managing patients with hypertension.
  • Lifestyle and pharmacological interventions may positively impact arterial stiffness, warranting further investigation.
  • Understanding arterial stiffness mechanisms and therapeutic targets is vital for cardiovascular disease prevention.

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