Association Between Blood Pressure Control and Arterial Stiffness in Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese Patients with Hypertension.

BACKGROUND The severity of arterial stiffness can be evaluated by pulse wave velocity (PWV). This study investigated the association between blood pressure (BP) control and arterial stiffness in middle-aged and elderly Chinese patients with hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS Three hundred and twelve hypertensive patients were divided according to whether their hypertension was well-controlled or uncontrolled and stratified according to age. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). The effect of BP control on arterial stiffness and its severity was assessed by multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Moderate and severe arterial stiffness was detected significantly more often in patients with uncontrolled hypertension than in those with well-controlled hypertension, regardless of age. BaPWV increased by 8.467 cm/s in the study population overall for every 1-mmHg increment in systolic BP and by 8.584, 8.616, and 8.199 cm/s, respectively, in patients aged 45-65, 65-80, and ≥80 years. Regardless of age, the risk of arterial stiffness was 5.93 times higher (95% confidence interval 2.78-12.64) and the risk of a one-grade increase in the severity of arterial stiffness was 4.01 times higher (95% confidence interval 2.51-6.42) in patients with uncontrolled hypertension than in those with well-controlled hypertension. CONCLUSIONS This study found a positive relationship between baPWV and BP and identified uncontrolled BP as a risk factor for arterial stiffness and its severity. Management of BP within a reasonable range may help to ameliorate arterial stiffness.