Increased estimated PWV tied to higher hypertension incidence

Estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) is significantly associated with mean systolic (SBP) and mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP), with an increase in ePWV resulting in a higher incidence of hypertension, reports a recent study.

“As a risk indicator of hypertension, arterial stiffness is difficult to measure,” the authors said. “Thus, we aimed to evaluate the association between ePWV as a convenient indicator and the incidence of hypertension.”

The authors chose the Kailuan cohort for statistical analysis and included a total of 54,849 individuals (mean age 48.44±9.32 years, 75.51 percent male) in the final cohort. They analysed the association between ePWV with mean SBP and mean DBP measured at five time points over a 10-year period using multiple linear regression. Logistic regression was also used to examine the influence of estimated arterial stiffness on hypertension.

On multiple linear regression analysis, ePWV showed a positive correlation with both mean SBP and mean DBP. For every 1-cm/s increase in ePWV, mean SBP increased by 5.60 mm Hg and mean DBP by 2.12 mm Hg. In the total cohort, logistic regression analysis revealed higher incidences of hypertension in populations with moderate (3.03 times higher), moderate-to-high (5.44 times higher), and high ePWV (7.87 times higher) compared with those with low ePWV values.

In addition, ePWV demonstrated a higher predictive value in female and middle-age populations compared with male and older participants grouped by sex and age, respectively.