Preclinical Orthostatic Abnormalities May Predict Early Increase in Vascular Stiffness in Different Age Groups: A Pilot Study.

Clinical orthostatic hypotension (OH) and hypertension (OHT) are risk factors for arterial hypertension (AH) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and are associated with increased vascular stiffness. Preclinical OH and OHT are poorly understood. The main objective was to investigate preclinical orthostatic abnormalities and their association with increased vascular stiffness in different age groups of adults. A specially designed head-up tilt test standardized for hydrostatic column height was used to detect them. Three age groups of clinically healthy subjects were examined. In the group of young adults up to 30 years old, a significant predominance of orthostatic normotension (ONT) and an insignificant number of subjects with preclinical OH and OHT were found. In the age group over 45 years, compared to the group under 30 years, there was a twofold decrease in the proportion of individuals with ONT and a significant increase with preclinical OH and OHT. In all age groups, there was a significant orthostatic increase in vascular stiffness (as measured by the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), which was recovered to the baseline level when returning to the supine position. Overall, subjects with preclinical OH and OHT had significantly higher baPWV values compared to those with ONT (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively), with all subjects having vascular stiffness values within normal age-related values.

Detection of Preclinical Orthostatic Disorders in Young African and European Adults Using the Head-Up Tilt Test with a Standardized Hydrostatic Column Height: A Pilot Study.

Arterial hypertension (AH) remains the most common disease. One possible way to improve the effectiveness of the primary prevention of AH is to identify and control the preclinical orthostatic disturbances that precede the development of AH. The aim of the study was to determine the feasibility of a new protocol for the head-up tilt test (HUTT) with a standardized hydrostatic column height for the detection of asymptomatic orthostatic circulatory disorders and their racial differences in young African and European adults. METHODS: In total, 80 young healthy adults (40 African and 40 European) aged 20-23 years performed the HUTT with a standardized hydrostatic column height of 133 cm. The hemodynamic parameters were recorded using a Task Force Monitor (3040i). The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) was measured using a VaSera VS-2000 volumetric sphygmograph. RESULTS: The baseline and orthostatic hemodynamic changes in both racial groups were within normal limits. Orthostatic circulatory disturbances were not detected in 70% of the European participants and 65% of the African participants; however, preclinical orthostatic hypertension, which precedes AH, was detected using the new HUTT protocol in 32.5% of the African participants and 20% of the European participants. The baseline CAVI was higher in the European group compared to the African group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed the feasibility of the detection of preclinical orthostatic disturbances in young adults and the detection of their racial differences using the HUTT protocol, providing the use of a standard gravity load. Further study on the evolution of preclinical orthostatic disturbances and their relation to increased vascular stiffness is necessary among large samples.

Effects of an Innovative Head-Up Tilt Protocol on Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness Changes.

The objective of our study was to identify blood pressure (BP) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) changes during orthostatic loading, using a new the head-up tilt test (HUTT), which incorporates the usage of a standardized hydrostatic column height. METHODS: 40 healthy subjects 20-32 years performed HUTT, which was standardized to a height of the hydrostatic column at 133 cm. Exposure time was 10 min in each of 3 positions: horizontal supine 1, HUTT, and horizontal supine 2. The individual tilt up angle made it possible to set the standard value of the hydrostatic column. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded beat to beat using "Task Force Monitor 3040 i", pulse-wave velocity (PWV) was measured with a sphygmograph-sphygmomanometer VaSera VS1500N. RESULTS: Orthostatic loading caused a significant increase in heart rate (HR) and a decrease in stroke volume (SV) (p < 0.05) but no significant reductions in cardiac output, changes in total vascular resistance (TVR), or BP. An analysis of personalized data on systolic blood pressure (SBP) changes in tilt up position as compared to horizontal position (ΔSBP) revealed non-significant changes in this index in 48% of subjects (orthostatic normotension group), in 32% there was a significant decrease in it (orthostatic hypotension group) and in 20% there was a significant increase in it (orthostatic hypertension group). These orthostatic changes were not accompanied by any clinical symptoms and/or syncope. During HUTT, all subjects had in the PWV a significant increase of approximately 27% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The new test protocol involving HUTT standardized to a height of hydrostatic column at 133 cm causes typical hemodynamics responses during orthostatic loading. Individual analysis of the subjects revealed subclinical orthostatic disorders (OSD) in up to 52% of the test persons. During HUTT, all test subjects showed a significant increase in PWV. The new innovative HUTT protocol can be applied in multi-center studies in healthy subjects to detect preclinical forms of orthostatic disorders under standard gravity load conditions.