|
What
is "Pulse Pressure" and Why is it Important?
Although most people are not even aware of
what it actually is, "pulse pressure" is a better predictor
of cardiovascular disease than is mean arterial pressure, according
to a new report. Another study found that the two measures are equally
predictive of cerebrovascular complications in patients with high
blood pressure.
The measurement of pulse pressure is the difference
of the two blood pressure measurements -- the systolic (the higher
number) and diastolic (the lower number).
The systolic pressure is the highest
arterial blood pressure of a cardiac cycle, which occurs immediately
after the contraction of the left ventricle of the heart. The diastolic
pressure is the lowest arterial blood pressure of a cardiac
cycle occurring during the expansion or dilation of the cavities
of the heart during which they fill with blood.
-
Researchers collected data on nearly 8000
older patients with high blood pressure in three separate trials.
-
They then calculated the relative risks
associated with pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure.
-
"A 10 mm
Hg wider pulse pressure increased the risk of major cardiovascular
complications ... the increase in risk ranged from
approximately 13% for all coronary endpoints to nearly 20% for
cardiovascular mortality," the researchers note the study's
abstract.
Additionally, the researchers found that the
risk of major cardiovascular complications increased with a higher
systolic blood pressure. "At any given level of systolic blood
pressure, it also rose with lower diastolic blood pressure, suggesting
that indeed the wider pulse pressure was driving the risk of major
cardiovascular complications."
"Pulse pressure should be considered
in future guidelines for assessing and treating hypertensive patients,"
stated one the researchers in comments to Reuters Health.
A second study group collected data on 2149
subjects with high blood pressure. During the 12-year follow-up,
there were 121 cardiac events and 96 cerebrovascular events.
Analysis of the data revealed that both pulse
pressure and mean arterial pressure were predictive of cerebrovascular
events.
Meeting of the International
Society of Hypertension August, 2000
|