Title: 999 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PULSE WAVE VELOCITY AND NOCTURNAL BLOOD PRESSURE IN ELDERLY HYPERTENSIVE SUBJECTS
Abstract: Objective: Tonometric pulse wave velocity (PWV) has been validated as a non-invasive method for arterial stiffness evaluation. On the other hand, it has been reported the relationship between increased target organ damage and non dipping nocturnal blood pressure. The objective was to assess the relationship between nocturnal blood pressure decline and PWV in those elderly hypertensive subjects. Design and methods: 75 subjects with essential hypertension were included, 72.81 ± 4.38 years old (49.3% female). BP was measured by ambulatory monitoring every 20 min between 07:00 am and 23:00 pm and every 30 min at night, throughout 48 hours with a Spacelabs 90207 device. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was also measured as an index of aortic stiffness, by using the At Cor Medical device (Sphygmo Cor Px®, Vx®, Sydney, Australia) which uses a validated transfer function. Results: 48-hour systolic/diastolic blood pressure were 130/80 mmHg, Mean nocturnal blood pressure were 124.2/63.36 mmHg and nocturnal blood pressure falling of 7.55/12.45 mmHg. 29.5% of subjects were dipper; 6.4% very dipper and 47.4% non dipper (16.7% riser). PWV was 12.6 m/sec ± 3.1 m/sec. Nocturnal blood pressure directly correlates with PWV (r: 0.619; p < 0.001) and no correlation was observed between PWV and diurnal BP. Conclusions: Nocturnal blood pressure may help us to identify those hypertensive subjects with higher arterial stiffness, that is, higher cardiovascular risk. Further studies are neccessary in order to assess beneficial on lowering nocturnal blood pressure. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring properly evaluates cardiovascular risk in elderly hypertensive subjects.