Body Mass Index and Arterial Stiffness Are Associated With Greater Beat-to-Beat Blood Pressure Variability After Transient Ischemic Attack or Minor Stroke.

Alastair J.S Webb,Linxin Li,Sara Mazzucco,Amy Lawson,Peter M Rothwell

doi:10.1161/strokeaha.120.031179

Abstract

[Figure: see text].

Highlights

AND PURPOSE: Blood pressure variability (BPV) from beat to beat is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and enables rapid assessment of BPV, but the underlying causes of elevated BPV are unclear
While there was a linear increase in systolic BPV (SBPV) with body mass index (BMI) in men, in women, SBPV was lowest for a BMI in the normal range but was greater below 20 or above 30 (ANOVA, P=0.012; BMIsex interaction, P=0.03)
High BMI was independently associated with SBPV in both sexes, a low BMI was associated with increased SBPV only in women

Summary

Methods

In consecutive patients within 4 to 6 weeks of transient ischemic attack or nondisabling stroke (OXVASC [Oxford Vascular Study]), continuous noninvasive blood pressure was measured beat to beat over 5 minutes (Finometer). Consecutive, consenting patients with transient ischemic attack or minor stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, 92 000 individuals registered with about 100 primary-care physicians in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.[17] All consenting patients had a standardized medical history and examination, ECG, blood tests, and a stroke protocol brain magnetic resonance imaging and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (or computed tomography of the brain and carotid Doppler ultrasound or computed tomography angiogram), an echocardiogram, and 5-day ambulatory cardiac monitor. Access to the data will be openly considered on application to the chief investigator (P.M.R.)

Results

Discussion

Conclusion