Temporal and Bidirectional Association Between Blood Pressure Variability and Arterial Stiffness: Cross-Lagged Cohort...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Hypertension Research
• Biostatistics

Background:

• The relationship between blood pressure variability (BPV) and arterial stiffness is not fully understood.
• Existing research has not definitively established a causal link or the directionality of this association.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the temporal and bidirectional associations between long-term BPV and arterial stiffness.
• To explore these relationships in a cohort with repeated measurements over time.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Beijing Health Management Cohort with 5 visits (2010-2019).
• Defined long-term BPV using coefficient of variation (CV) and standard deviation (SD).
• Measured arterial stiffness via brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and analyzed using cross-lagged and regression models.

Main Results:

• BPV at an earlier time point significantly predicted subsequent arterial stiffness (baPWV).
• No significant association was found between arterial stiffness and subsequent BPV.
• These associations were more pronounced in participants with hypertension.

Conclusions:

• Long-term BPV is a significant predictor of arterial stiffness.
• The relationship appears to be unidirectional, with BPV influencing arterial stiffness.
• Findings highlight the importance of managing BPV, especially in hypertensive patients.