Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 19, 2026

Hydra, a Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Cardiovascular Analysis and Diagnosis
07:51

Hydra, a Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Cardiovascular Analysis and Diagnosis

Published on: September 26, 2018

8.2K

Long-term blood pressure variability: an emerging cardiovascular risk factor

Allis Lai1, Lawrence Lam1, Akshita Raminemi1

  • 1Medical Student.

The British Journal of Cardiology
|March 18, 2026
PubMed

Insights

High systolic blood pressure variability predicts cardiovascular events, even with controlled blood pressure. Certain medications like amlodipine and thiazide diuretics can effectively reduce this variability.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Long-term systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV) is a significant predictor of cardiovascular outcomes.
  • High SBPV increases cardiovascular risk, even in patients with well-controlled blood pressure (<140/90 mmHg).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the prognostic significance of systolic blood pressure variability.
  • To discuss methods of measuring SBPV and potential alternatives.
  • To identify antihypertensive medications that effectively reduce SBPV.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from clinical trials and observational studies.
  • Derivation of SBPV using standard deviation of visit-to-visit clinic blood pressure measurements.
  • Review of evidence on antihypertensive drug effects on SBPV.

Main Results:

  • SBPV is an independent predictor of cardiovascular outcomes, irrespective of average systolic pressure levels.
  • Values exceeding 12 for SBPV indicate high risk.
  • Ongoing research is exploring home blood pressure monitoring for SBPV assessment.

Conclusions:

  • Long-acting calcium-channel blockers (e.g., amlodipine) and thiazide-like diuretics are the primary antihypertensive drug classes shown to reduce long-term SBPV.
  • These medications should be prioritized for patients exhibiting high SBPV.

Keywords:
blood pressure variabilitycardiovascular risk

More Related Videos

Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity Cf-PWV to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness05:51

Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity Cf-PWV to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness

Published on: May 3, 2018

18.8K
Software for Analysis of Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Time-series Data from the Valsalva Maneuver14:28

Software for Analysis of Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Time-series Data from the Valsalva Maneuver

Published on: June 27, 2025

1.2K

Related Concept Videos

Factors affecting Blood pressure01:28

Factors affecting Blood pressure

Several physiological and lifestyle factors influence blood pressure (BP). Understanding these factors is crucial as they are significant in patient education and blood pressure management.
Physiological Factors:
7.6K
Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring01:25

Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring

Blood pressure monitoring is a crucial clinical procedure in diagnosing and managing various cardiovascular conditions. Despite its significance, the accuracy of blood pressure measurements can be compromised by multiple factors, potentially leading to either falsely high or low readings. These inaccuracies are critical as they can significantly impact patient care. So, it is vital to understand these challenges deeply and adopt strategic approaches to minimize errors.
Several factors...
1.7K
Measurement of Blood Pressure01:17

Measurement of Blood Pressure

Assessing blood pressure is a standard procedure executed in virtually all medical environments. The method utilized today was established over a hundred years ago by an innovative Russian doctor, Dr. Nikolai Korotkoff. The soft ticking noise, known as Korotkoff sounds, heard while taking blood pressure readings results from turbulent blood flow within the vessels. The apparatus required for this procedure includes a sphygmomanometer, a blood pressure cuff attached to a gauge, and a...
3.8K
Variability: Analysis01:11

Variability: Analysis

Measures of variability are statistical metrics that reveal the dispersion pattern within a dataset. They are pivotal in biostatistics, providing insights into the heterogeneity within health and biological data. Variability signifies the degree to which data points diverge from one another, helping researchers understand the potential range of values and associated uncertainty within the data.
The range is a simple measure of variability, indicating the difference between the highest and...
616
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure01:18

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
4.7K
Assessment of blood pressure in brachial artery(one-step method)01:15

Assessment of blood pressure in brachial artery(one-step method)

This procedural guide systematically measures blood pressure using an oscillometric digital sphygmomanometer, emphasizing accuracy, patient safety, and comfort.
Prepare for the Procedure:
1.4K