Twenty-Four-Hour Central Pulse Pressure for Cardiovascular Events Prediction in a Low-Cardiovascular-Risk Population: Results From the Bordeaux Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Central blood pressure (BP) is a promising marker to identify subjects with higher cardiovascular risk than expected by traditional risk factors. Significant results have been obtained in populations with high cardiovascular risk, but little is known about low-cardiovascular-risk patients, although the differences between central and peripheral BP (amplification) are usually greater in this population. The study aim was to evaluate central BP over 24 hours for cardiovascular event prediction in hypertensive subjects with low cardiovascular risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: Peripheral and central BPs were recorded during clinical visits and over 24 hours in hypertensive patients with low cardiovascular risk (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation ≤5%). Our primary end point is the occurrence of a cardiovascular event during follow-up. To assess the potential interest in central pulse pressure over 24 hours, we performed Cox proportional hazard models analysis and comparison of area under the curves using the contrast test for peripheral and central BP. A cohort of 703 hypertensive subjects from Bordeaux were included. After the first 24 hours of BP measurement, the subjects were then followed up for an average of 112.5±70 months. We recorded 65 cardiovascular events during follow-up. Amplification was found to be significantly associated with cardiovascular events when added to peripheral 24-hour pulse pressure (P=0.0259). The area under the curve of 24-hour central pulse pressure is significantly more important than area under the curve of office BP (P=0.0296), and there is a trend of superiority with the area under the curve of peripheral 24-hour pulse pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Central pulse pressure over 24 hours improves the prediction of cardiovascular events for hypertensive patients with low cardiovascular risk compared to peripheral pulse pressure.

Investigating the association of vitamin D with blood pressure and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in hypertensive subjects: a cross-sectional prospective study.

The hypothesis that vitamin D (25(OH)D) insufficiency plays a role in occurring of various disease has led to a rise in requests of dosages and to an increase of health-care costs. 25(OH)D insufficiency is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension in many studies. Animal studies demonstrated that 25(OH)D insufficiency activates renin angiotensin system but corresponding humans data are limited. The aim of the study was to document relationship between 25(OH)D, blood pressure, and renin angiotensin system in hypertensive subjects. In all, 248 hypertensive individuals, 46.8 years (±14), were hospitalized for an etiological assessment of hypertension in this cross-sectional study over two calendar years. 25(OH)D, plasma renin activity, and aldosterone were determined in stringent conditions and blood pressure was measure. Statistical analyses were carried out to analyze the association between 25(OH)D, blood pressure, and renin angiotensin system using linear and logistic regressions with adjustments on relevant variables. In all, 80% of the studied population had a 25(OH)D insufficiency. There were no significant association between 25(OH)D and levels of systolic or diastolic blood pressure, plasma renin activity, and aldosterone whatever the statiscal method used after adjustment. 25(OH)D is not associated with blood pressure and renin angiontensin component in hypertensive subjects. These results corroborate the interventional studies which are for a large majority negatives. A new definition of the 25(OH)D insufficiency in general population is necessary.

Increased arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients.

OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia, and confers a high risk of stroke and heart failure. Hypertension and ageing are two important risk factors of incident atrial fibrillation and are both associated with increased arterial stiffness. The possible relationship between arterial stiffness and atrial fibrillation is insufficiently documented and is probably complex. We tested these relations in a cohort of hypertensive patients. METHODS: The population belongs to a registry which includes patients referred before administration of antihypertensive treatment and fulfilling the following criteria: office blood pressure (BP) above 140/90 mmHg, essential hypertension, no history of cardiovascular events, type 1 diabetes or atrial fibrillation, 24-h ambulatory measurement of BP coupled with the measurement of timing of Korotkoff sounds to assess arterial stiffness [indexed theoretical value of QKD interval for a SBP of 100 mmHg, at heart rate (HR) of 60 b.p.m., indexed for height and QRS duration (QKDh)]. An echocardiographic examination was carried out at baseline in the majority of patients. Atrial fibrillation-free survival was analysed with a Cox model including sex, diabetes, smoking, hypercholesterolaemia, QKDh, average 24-h pulse pressure and mean BP, mean 24-h HR, BMI and left atrial diameter (LAD), when available. RESULTS: We included 853 patients and recorded 67 new onsets of atrial fibrillation (mean follow-up = 102 ±â€Š62 months). Analysis found three variables significantly and independently linked to the occurrence of atrial fibrillation: age, QKDh and 24-h average HR. When LAD was introduced (n = 480, 35 incident atrial fibrillation), three variables were linked to incident atrial fibrillation: age, QKDh and LAD. CONCLUSION: Arterial stiffness is a strong predictor of future atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients, independently of age, 24-h pulse pressure and LAD.