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Hemodynamic sequelae of age-related increases in arterial stiffness in healthy women

H Tanaka1, F A Dinenno, B E Hunt

  • 1Center for Physical Activity, Disease Prevention, and Aging, Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Colorado at Boulder, 80309-0354, USA. tanakah@colorado.edu

The American Journal of Cardiology
|November 17, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Arterial stiffness increases cardiovascular disease risk with age. This study links stiffening arteries to higher blood pressure via elevated systemic vascular resistance, which decreases with blood volume and cardiac output.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular physiology
  • Aging research
  • Vascular biology

Background:

  • Arterial stiffening is a hallmark of aging.
  • Increased arterial stiffness is linked to higher cardiovascular disease incidence.
  • The precise mechanisms connecting arterial stiffness to blood pressure changes with age require elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the physiological link between age-related arterial stiffness and elevated blood pressure.
  • To determine the relationship between arterial stiffness, systemic vascular resistance, and hemodynamic parameters in aging.

Main Methods:

  • The study examined the physiological connections between arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and cardiac function in an aging cohort.
  • Analysis focused on systemic vascular resistance, blood volume, stroke volume, and cardiac output in relation to arterial stiffness.

Main Results:

  • Elevated systemic vascular resistance was identified as the primary physiological link between age-related arterial stiffness and increased blood pressure.
  • Decreased blood volume, stroke volume, and cardiac output were found to be inversely correlated with increased arterial stiffness and systemic vascular resistance in aging.

Conclusions:

  • Age-related arterial stiffening contributes to hypertension primarily through increased systemic vascular resistance.
  • Reduced cardiac output and blood volume may play a role in the progression of arterial stiffness and hypertension with aging.

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