P218 MAY MEASUREMENT MONTH 2019: BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH HYPERTENSION AND COMORBIDITIES

Abstract

Background and Objective: Within-visit blood pressure variability (BPV) is a predictor of cardiovascular events, independent of mean blood pressure (BP) levels. This study explored the associations of BPV with hypertension status and comorbidities in May Measurement Month (MMM) 2019 global survey participants. Methods: Adults (≥18 years) were surveyed via convenience sampling from 92 countries in May 2019. Each participant had up to three standardized seated BP readings. Participants with incomplete data on age or sex, or any missing BP readings were excluded. Hypertension was defined as having a BP ≥140 and/or 90 mmHg or being treated with BP-lowering medication. Participants were stratified into three groups: normotensive, untreated hypertensives, treated hypertensives, and normotensives. BPV was calculated as the variation independent of the mean (VIM) of the three BP readings. Associations between BPV and each of three conditions (previous stroke, previous myocardial infarction, or diabetes) were modelled using linear regression. Each model was adjusted for mean BP, age, sex, and an interaction term between age and sex. Results: Data from 1,128,889 participants were included. The mean age was 45.2 (SD 16.6) years and 51.4% were female. A third (33.6%) of participants were hypertensive, of whom 200,370 (53.2%) were treated. Of non-hypertensive and untreated hypertensive participants, those with a history of stroke, myocardial infarction, or diabetes had lower BPV relative to those without a history of these conditions (Figure). A stronger association was observed for diabetes within untreated hypertensive than non-hypertensive participants. However, amongst treated hypertensive participants, differences in BPV between those with comorbid conditions and those without were smaller than in the other two groups. Conclusions: Contrary to expectation, BPV was significantly lower in those with diabetes, or a history of stroke or myocardial infarction, amongst both untreated hypertensives and normotensives. However, among treated hypertensives, BPV was similar between those with or without each comorbidity, suggesting a modifying effect of BP-lowering medication.