Blood pressure and pulse wave velocity values in the institutionalized elderly aged 80 and over: baseline of the PARTAGE study.

Objective: The aim of the longitudinal study PARTAGE (predictive values of blood pressure and arterial stiffness in institutionalized very aged population) was to determine the predictive value of blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness for overall mortality, major cardiovascular events and cognitive decline in a large population of institutionalized patients aged 80 and over. In the study herein, we present the baseline data values of this study.

Methods: A total of 1130 patients were recruited (878 women), living in French and Italian nursing homes. Clinical and 3-day self-measurements of BP were conducted. Aortic and upper limb pulse wave velocity were obtained using a PulsePen tonometer.

Results: Of this population, 76% of women and 60% of men had a known hypertension and over 91% of the patients were under antihypertensive treatment; 51% of the treated hypertensive patients were well controlled (systolic BP <140 mmHg). No significant differences were found between clinical and self-measured BP. With age, there was an increase in pulse pressure (P < 0.001) due to a decrease in diastolic BP (P < 0.001), without any increase in systolic BP. Aortic but not peripheral pulse wave velocity significantly increased with age (P < 0.005).

Conclusion: Baseline values obtained herein demonstrate that elderly patients living in nursing homes present hemodynamic characteristics which are different to those described in community-living elderly populations, and indicate the interest of assessing, in longitudinal studies, the role of BP and arterial stiffness in morbidity and mortality in this population.