Data on arterial stiffness in older populations, according to blood pressure (BP) levels, are scarce in Brazil. The objective of this study was to establish reference values for core measures of arterial stiffness, including carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) and aortic augmentation index (AIx), in a cohort of older individuals with normotension (NT) and hypertension. Cross-sectional analysis was performed with applanation tonometry data from 1192 patients aged 60 years or older. The authors classified patients according to their BP levels as having NT, controlled hypertension (CH), and uncontrolled hypertension (UH). The cf-PWV values were 9.11 ± 0.16 m/s (NT), 9.12 ± 0.18 m/s (CH), and 9.42 ± 2.2 m/s (UH) (P < 0.005; UH vs NT and CH). The AIx was 33.3% for the entire cohort and similar across all groups. The cf-PWV increased with age but reached a ceiling at 75 years. Compared with men, women had a higher AIx but similar cf-PWV levels. In conclusion, the markers of arterial stiffness were similar among individuals with NT/CH and higher among individuals with UH.
Background/Aims: Elderly patients with normal systemic arterial blood pressure associated with femoral carotid pulse velocity (cf-PWV) less than 7.6 m/s and without associated comorbidities are considered to have good vascular health. The aim of the current study was to verify the probability that elderly patients with good vascular health have at least one blood pressure measurement above the different thresholds for systolic blood pressure (120, 130 and 140 mmHg) during two years of follow–up. Methods: We selected 72 normotensive patients (< 140/90 mmHg) without comorbidities and divided them into group A, with cf-PWV < 7.6 m/s (n = 27; 65 ± 4 years), and group B, with cf-PWV ≥ 7.6 m/s (n = 45; 66± 8 years). These patients were followed for two years and were observed in 3 outpatient visits (0, 12 and 24 months). At each visit, the brachial pressures were indirectly measured in triplicate, and applanation tonometry was performed. Results: When group A and group B were compared, the odds ratio (OR) of having a systolic pressure measurement ≥ 140 mmHg in two years of follow-up was 0.22 (P < 0.0001); ≥ 130 mmHg, the OR was 0.49 (P < 0.0007), and ≥ 120 mmHg, the OR was 0.54 (P < 0.001). Group A and group B showed increased values of cf-PWV during the two years of follow-up (P < 0.05). Changes in the average systolic brachial pressure were not significant during the two years in groups A or B. Conclusion: Vascular health in elderly individuals seems to protect against occasional elevations in systemic arterial pressure.
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