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Extent of, and variables associated with, blood pressure variability among older subjects

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Abstract

Background

Blood pressure variability (BPV) may have prognostic implications for cardiovascular risk and cognitive decline; however, BPV has yet to be studied in old and very old people.

Aims

Aim of the present study was to evaluate the extent of BPV and to identify variables associated with BPV among older subjects.

Methods

A retrospective study of patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was carried out. Three different BPV indexes were calculated for systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP): standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), and average real variability (ARV). Demographic variables and use of antihypertensive medications were considered.

Results

The study included 738 patients. Mean age was 74.8 ± 6.8 years. Mean SBP and DBP SD were 20.5 ± 4.4 and 14.6 ± 3.4 mmHg. Mean SBP and DBP CV were 16 ± 3 and 20 ± 5%. Mean SBP and DBP ARV were 15.7 ± 3.9 and 11.8 ± 3.6 mmHg. At multivariate analysis older age, female sex and uncontrolled mean blood pressure were associated with both systolic and diastolic BPV indexes. The use of calcium channel blockers and alpha-adrenergic antagonists was associated with lower systolic and diastolic BPV indexes, respectively.

Conclusions

Among elderly subjects undergoing 24-h ABPM, we observed remarkably high indexes of BPV, which were associated with older age, female sex, and uncontrolled blood pressure values.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatric, Città della Salute e della Scienza-Molinette Torino, Corso Bramante 88, Turin, Italy

    Arianna Morano, Agnese Ravera, Luca Agosta, Matteo Sappa, Yolanda Falcone, Gianfranco Fonte, Giovanni Carlo Isaia & Mario Bo

  2. San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, Orbassano, Turin, Italy

    Gianluca Isaia

Authors
  1. Arianna Morano
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  2. Agnese Ravera
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  3. Luca Agosta
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  4. Matteo Sappa
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  6. Gianfranco Fonte
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  7. Gianluca Isaia
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Correspondence to Arianna Morano.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that is no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all the patients included in the study.

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Morano, A., Ravera, A., Agosta, L. et al. Extent of, and variables associated with, blood pressure variability among older subjects. Aging Clin Exp Res 30, 1327–1333 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-0917-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-0917-x

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