Central blood pressure and arterial stiffness in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure

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Objective. To evaluate central systolic blood pressure (cSBP) and arterial stiffness (AS) in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) according to different phenotypes of ejection fraction (EF) and to assess their changes after 6 months of stable guideline-directed medical therapy. Design and methods. In 54 patients (61% males, median age 69,5 (62; 77) years, median EF 51% (interquartile range (IQR) 38; 55%), median N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) 623 (500; 1842) pg/ml; heart failure (HF) with reduced EF in 37%, HF with mildly reduced EF in 13%, HF with preserved EF in 50%), apart from routine tests, we assessed cSBP and AS with applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor). cSBP above individual reference values, central pulse pressure (PP) ≥ 50 mmHg, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) > 10 m/s, cfPWV above individual reference values, and aortic-brachial stiffness mismatch (stiffness gradient as cfPWV/carotid-radial (cr)PWV) ≥ 1) were considered abnormal. The statistical analysis was performed in the groups with EF ≥ 50% and < 50% р < 0,05 was considered significant. Results. Brachial systolic blood pressure (bSBP) in the whole group was 117 (106; 130) mmHg; cSBP 109,5 (96; 120) mmHg. Uncontrolled blood pressure was observed in 40%, hypotension — in 3%. There were no differences between groups according to EF. cSBP elevation was observed in 33% (28,5% in EF ≥ 50% and 38,4% in EF < 50%; р > 0,05), and in 27,1% with normal bSBP. There were no significant differences in AS parameters between groups according to EF. Elevation of at least 1 marker of AS was present in 78,5%, cfPWV > 10 ms — in 50%, cfPWV above individual reference values— in 55,5%, central PP ≥ 50 mmHg — in 16,6%, high AS gradient — in 70,3%. Abnormal AS gradient was observed in 48,1% of patients with normal cfPWV. Patients with more severe congestion according to bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) had lower cfPWV compared to less severe congestion: 9 (6,7; 10,2) vs 11,6 (6,9; 15,1) m/s, р = 0,04. There was significant correlation between the amount of extracellular fluid by BIVA and cfPWV (r = –0,36, p < 0,05). There was significant increase in cSBP, PP, cfPWV and augmentation index and decrease in PP amplification in the whole group after 6 months. Conclusions. Patients admitted with ADHF have high frequency of cSBP elevation regardless of EF and blood pressure control. The most common marker of AS increase was cfPWV elevation above individual reference values and abnormal stiffness gradient. Patients with less congestion by BIVA had higher cfPWV. After 6 months there was increase in cSBP and parameters of AS.