A6530 Baseline predictors of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity progression in prehypertension patients over a 5 years follow-up

Abstract

Objectives: The role of risk factors on the progression of arterial stiffness has not yet been extensively evaluated in prehypertension population. The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the determinants of the ba-PWV progression over a 5 years follow-up period in prehypertension subjects. Methods: We enrolled 204 prehypertension subjects 35–80 aged. At baseline physical examination, BP, laboratory data and ba-PWV were assessed. We performed a ba-PWV follow-up examination with a median time amounting to 5.25 ± 0.53 years. Results: At baseline the mean age was 67.5 ± 12.6 years, SBP and DBP were 131.3 ± 8.6 and 82.4 ± 7.4 mmHg and PWV was 1.56 ± 1.92 m/s. At follow-up the population showed a PWV increase (ΔPWV 0.97 ± 3.05 m/s). PWV and ΔPWV gradually increased in age decades. The independent predictors of ΔPWV were age, BMI, baseline PWV, baseline SBP/MBP and ΔSBP/MBP. Conclusion: We demonstrated that age, BMI, baseline PWV and baseline SBP/MBP and ΔSBP/MBP are independent risk factors of ba-PWV in this prehypertension population. Better obesity management may impede artery stiffness in prehypertension subjects. PWV changes over time would probably give important information that need future research studies.