Central Blood Pressure and Augmentation Index in Older Adults With Intellectual Disabilities

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Gerontology
• Intellectual Disabilities Research

Background:

• Older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) exhibit increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk compared to the general population.
• Understanding central hemodynamics, including central blood pressure (BP) and augmentation index, is crucial for risk stratification and treatment optimization in this demographic.
• This research investigates these hemodynamic parameters in large cohorts of older adults with ID.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate central blood pressure and augmentation index in older adults with intellectual disabilities.
• To analyze the distribution of these hemodynamic measures across different age ranges and sexes.
• To explore associations between central hemodynamics, cardiovascular risk factors, and existing CVD.

Main Methods:

• Data from two cohorts, the Healthy Ageing and Intellectual Disabilities (HA-ID) study (n=121, ≥60 years) and the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) study (n=115, ≥40 years), were analyzed.
• Central blood pressure and augmentation index were measured using the Mobil-O-Graph device.
• Bivariate correlations were employed to examine relationships between hemodynamic measures, CVD risk factors, and CVD history.

Main Results:

• Mean brachial BP was 133/81 mmHg in the HA-ID cohort and 127/81 mmHg in the IDS-TILDA cohort.
• Mean central systolic BP (cSBP) was 122 mmHg in HA-ID and 120 mmHg in IDS-TILDA.
• Central diastolic BP (cDBP) was 82 mmHg in both cohorts, with central pulse pressure (cPP) of 40 mmHg (HA-ID) and 38 mmHg (IDS-TILDA).

Conclusions:

• Females with intellectual disabilities demonstrated higher central blood pressures, augmentation pressure, and augmentation index compared to males.
• An age-related increase in central blood pressures was observed in females with intellectual disabilities.