Age- and Gender-Related Differences in the Hemodynamic Status of Patients with Mild or Moderate Hypertension

The aim of this study was to use non-invasive impedance cardiography (ICG) to determine the hemodynamic status of patients with grade 1 and grade 2 hypertension in relation to gender and age.

We analyse prospectively collected data of 158 patients with grade 1 or grade 2 arterial hypertension. Patients were grouped according to age: 1) <50 years and 2) ≥50 years. Hemodynamic status of patients was assessed by using non-invasive ICG. For the purpose of this study two hemodynamic parameters were used: a) systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) and b) left cardiac work index (LCWI). The primary endpoint was the hemodynamic status of patients. The secondary endpoint was hypertension-mediated organ damage.

Increased SVRI was assessed in 80% of patients, more common in the ≥50 years group than in the <50 years group (88.5% vs 64.8%; p < 0.01). The occurrence of increased systemic vascular resistance correlates hierarchically with increasing age. Elevated LCWI (hypervolemia and/or hyperinotropy) was present in 63% of patients, more often in males than females (70.3% vs 57.1%; p < 0.05) as well in those <50 years than in older patients (70.4% vs 59.6%; p < 0.05). Patients with diabetes were less likely to have hypervolemia/hyperinotropy than those without diabetes (46.7% vs 67.2%; p < 0.01). Hypervolemia/hyperinotropy (46.7%) and hypovolemia/hypoinotropy (43.3%) were present in a similar percentage of diabetic patients. Left ventricular hypertrophy was found in 30 patients (19%). Patients with left ventricular hypertrophy were more commonly male (66.7% vs 42.2%; p = 0.016) and had increased systemic vascular resistance (96.7% vs 77.3%; p = 0.015) compared to the patients without left ventricular hypertrophy. Hypertensive retinopathy grade III was found in 14 patients (8.9%). Elevated daytime systolic pressure, diabetes and increased age are independent predictors of grade III hypertensive retinopathy. Patients with reduced renal function had higher mean systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05), were more commonly male (p < 0.01) and older (p < 0.01) than those without reduced renal function.

Although there are certain correlations between hemodynamic disorders and age and gender, specific hemodynamic status of an individual patient with hypertension cannot reliably be predicted on the basis of age and gender. The measurement of hemodynamic parameters by ICG can guide the clinician to select appropriate antihypertensive therapy to the patients' hemodynamic pathophysiologic condition.