Low baroreflex sensitivity tied to higher BP, BP variability

Lower cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) appears to contribute to a higher mean blood pressure (BP) from the short- to midterm range and to BP variability, albeit not consistently, results of the Maastricht study have shown.

Notably, the association between low BRS and mean BP is more pronounced in women and weaker in those with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

A team of investigators examined cross-sectional data from the population-based Maastricht study (mean age 60 years, 52 percent men), in which office (n=2,846), 24-h (n=2,404), and 7-day BP (n=2,006) were measured. They evaluated spontaneous BRS by cross-correlating systolic BP and instantaneous heart rate. Linear regression was performed, adjusting for age, sex, BP or BP variability, and cardiovascular risk factors.

Each 1-standard deviation (SD) lower BRS (‒5.75 ms/mm Hg) significantly correlated with higher office (2.22 mg Hg, 95 percent confidence interval, 1.59‒2.80), 24-h (0.95 mm Hg, 95 percent CI, 0.54‒1.36), and 7-day systolic BP (1.48 mm Hg, 95 percent CI, 0.99 to 1.97), as well as increased office (1.31 mm Hg, 95 percent CI, 0.97‒1.66), 24-h (0.57 mm Hg, 95 percent CI, 0.30‒0.84), and 7-day diastolic BP (0.86 mm Hg, 95 percent CI, 0.54‒1.17).

The associations of lower BRS with BP were more robust in women (0.5‒1.5 mm Hg higher compared to men) and weaker in those with T2D (1‒1.5 mm Hg lower compared to normal glucose metabolism).

Moreover, BRS showed a nonconsistent association with lower BP variability.