AORTIC REFLECTION MAGNITUDE SUGGESTS A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH BODY MASS INDEX THAN OBTAINED IN OTHER CONVENTIONAL BLOOD PRESSURE PARAMETERS, IN A GROUP OF HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS.

Background: Although body mass index (BMI) is an important confounder of hypertension and a relationship has been postulated between BMI and blood pressure (BP) in the hypertensive range, the relationship between BMI and central BP remains poorly studied.

Objectives: To determine how central BP parameters relate to BMI, in a group of hypertensive patients.

Methods: In ongoing data, 55 hypertensive patients (average age =52.4 years) were evaluated for anthropometries including BMI and skin fold thickness (SFT) by standard methods. Aortic BP was assessed using a well-validated, reproducible, and non-invasive pulse pen to non-metric device that employs a generalized transfer function (GTF) interfaced with a computer. The office BP was also measured by experienced observers. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r), was determined for the anthropometries and BP parameters and the results were subsequently compared.

Results: There were no significant correlations recorded for both the SFT and BMI with the peripheral systolic and pulse pressure (PP)), as well as with the aortic systolic BP or PP, the forward pressure wave, (Pf) or the reflected pressure (Pb). However, the reflected component (Pb) of the aortic pressure did, when evaluated independent of the forward pressure wave, (Pf) as reflection magnitude (RM) against the BMI (-0.273, p =.046).

Conclusions: The reflected wave, Pb evaluated independent of the Pf, as RM, of the aortic pulsatile pressures, correlates better than other components with BMI in a group of hypertensive patients.