Modification over time of pulse wave velocity parallel to changes in aortic BP, as well as in 24-h ambulatory brachial BP.

Arterial stiffness as assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) is a marker of preclinical organ damage and a predictor of cardiovascular outcomes, independently of blood pressure (BP). However, limited evidence exists on the association between long-term variation (Δ) on aortic BP (aoBP) and ΔcfPWV. We aimed to evaluate the relationship of ΔBP with ΔcfPWV over time, as assessed by office and 24-h ambulatory peripheral BP, and aoBP. AoBP and cfPWV were evaluated in 209 hypertensive patients with either diabetes or metabolic syndrome by applanation tonometry (Sphygmocor) at baseline(b) and at 12 months of follow-up(fu). Peripheral BP was also determined by using validated oscillometric devices (office(o)-BP) and on an outpatient basis by using a validated (Spacelabs-90207) device (24-h ambulatory BP). ΔcfPWV over time was calculated as follows: ΔcfPWV=[(cfPWVfu-cfPWVb)/cfPWVb] × 100. ΔBP over time resulted from the same formula applied to BP values obtained with the three different measurement techniques. Correlations (Spearman 'Rho') between ΔBP and ΔcfPWV were calculated. Mean age was 62 years, 39% were female and 80% had type 2 diabetes. Baseline office brachial BP (mm Hg) was 143±20/82±12. Follow-up (12 months later) office brachial BP (mm Hg) was 136±20/79±12. ΔcfPWV correlated with ΔoSBP (Rho=0.212; P=0.002), Δ24-h SBP (Rho=0.254; P<0.001), Δdaytime SBP (Rho=0.232; P=0.001), Δnighttime SBP (Rho=0.320; P<0.001) and ΔaoSBP (Rho=0.320; P<0.001). A multiple linear regression analysis included the following independent variables: ΔoSBP, Δ24-h SBP, Δdaytime SBP, Δnighttime SBP and ΔaoSBP. ΔcfPWV was independently associated with Δ24-h SBP (ß-coefficient=0.195; P=0.012) and ΔaoSBP (ß-coefficient= 0.185; P=0.018). We conclude that changes in both 24-h SBP and aoSBP more accurately reflect changes in arterial stiffness than do office BP measurements.

Sedentary behaviour patterns and arterial stiffness in a Spanish adult population - The EVIDENT trial.

OBJECTIVE: Arterial stiffness is a contributor to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between sedentary behaviour and arterial stiffness in a Spanish adult population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1365 subjects belonging to the EVIDENT project. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour were measured objectively over 7 days using ActiGraph accelerometers. Thresholds of 10 consecutive minutes were used to estimate the daily sedentary time in bouts ≥10 min. Each interruption in sedentary time (counts/min ≥100) was considered a break. Arterial stiffness was evaluated using the B-pro device through the following indicators: radial Augmentation Index (rAIx), Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness Index (AASI), and central and peripheral pulse pressure (PP). RESULTS: We found a positive relationship between central and peripheral pulse pressure (office, 24 h, awake and sleep PP) and total sedentary time. These arterial stiffness parameters were also associated with sedentary time in bouts ≥10 min. Significance disappeared in both cases, however, after adjusting for MVPA and breaks per sedentary hour. Adults who reported fewer breaks per sedentary hour (25th percentile < 2 n/day) had higher levels of AASI, awake and sleep PP. CONCLUSIONS: In a medium-sized sample of adult attenders of community clinics our data showed that it seems to be important to avoid prolonged uninterrupted periods of sedentary time.

[Relationship between physical activity and hemodynamic parameters in adults]. / Relación entre la actividad física y parámetros hemodinámicos en adultos.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the relationship between physical activity, as assessed by accelerometer, with central and peripheral augmentation index and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in adults. METHODS: This study analyzed 263 subjects who were included in the EVIDENT study. Physical activity was assessed during 7 days using the ActigraphGT3X accelerometer (counts/min). Carotid ultrasound was used to measure carotid IMT. The Sphygmo Cor System was used to measure central and peripheral augmentation index (CAIx and PAIx). RESULTS: Mean age 55.85±12 years; 59.30% female; 26.7 body mass index and blood pressure 120/77mmHg. Mean physician activity counts/min was 244.37 and 2.63±10.26min/day of vigorous or very vigorous activity. Physical activity showed an inverse correlation with PAIx (r=-0.179; P<.01) and vigorous activity day time with IMT(r=-0.174; P<.01), CAIx (r=-0.217; P<.01) and PAIx (r=-0.324; P<.01). After adjusting for confounding factors in the multiple regression analysis, the inverse association of CAIx with counts/min and the time spent in vigorous/very vigorous activity was maintained. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that both physical activity and time spent in vigorous or vigorous activity are associated with the central augmentation index in adults.

Glycemic index, glycemic load, and pulse wave reflection in adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Diets with a high glycemic index (GI), high glycemic load (GL), or both, increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study examined the association of GI and GL in a regular diet with the peripheral augmentation index (i.e., a marker of vascular aging) in a sample of adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cross-sectional study. The findings presented in this manuscript are a subanalysis of the EVIDENT study whose purpose was to analyze the relationship between lifestyle and arterial aging. For the sample population, 1553 individuals aged 20-80 years were selected through random sampling from the patients of general practitioners at six health centers in Spain. GI and GL for each patient's diet were calculated from a previously validated, semi-quantitative, 137-item food frequency questionnaire. The peripheral augmentation index corrected for a heart rate of 75 bpm (PAIx75) was measured with pulse-wave application software (A-Pulse CASP). Based on a risk factor adjusted regression model, for every 5 unit increase in GI, the PAIx75 increased by 0.11 units (95% CI: 0.04-0.19). Similarly, for every increase in 10 units in GL, the PAIx75 increased by 1.13 (95% CI: 0.21-2.05). High PAIx75 values were observed in individuals with diets in the third GI tertile (i.e., the highest), and lower PAIx75 values in those with diets in the first tertile (i.e., the lowest), (93.1 vs. 87.5, respectively, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: GI and GL were directly associated with PAIx75 values in adults without cardiovascular diseases regardless of age, gender, physical activity, and other confounders.

Relationship between electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy criteria and vascular structure and function parameters in hypertensive patients.

The objective of this study was to determine the electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) criterion that best correlated with vascular structure and function parameters in hypertensive patients. A cross-sectional study involving 347 hypertensive patients was performed. The mean age of the subjects was 54.9±11.8 years, and 61% were male. Electrocardiography was used to detect LVH based on the evaluation of 10 criteria, and we defined the voltage-duration product (VDP) complex criterion. The vascular structure was evaluated according to carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT), and vascular function was evaluated according to pulse wave velocity (PWV), the ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI), the home arterial stiffness index, and the peripheral (PAIx) and central (CAIx) augmentation indices. LVH according to at least some electrocardiographic criteria was recorded in 29.10% of the patients (34.10% of females; 25.90% of males). The vascular structure and function parameters showed higher values in the hypertensive patients with LVH. The criterion most closely correlated with C-IMT was Lewis-VDP (r=0.257); with PWV and AASI, the criterion was the Framingham-adjusted Cornell voltage (r=0.228 and r=0.195, respectively); and with CAIx and PAIx, the criterion was Novacode (r=0.226 and r=0.277, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, the association of the vascular structure and function parameters, the VDP complex (multiple linear regression) and the presence of LVH (logistic regression) disappeared after adjusting for age, sex and antihypertensive drugs. The relationship between the electrocardiographic criteria used to detect LVH in hypertensive patients and the vascular structure and function parameters were fundamentally conditioned by age and antihypertensive drug treatment.

Leg fat might be more protective than arm fat in relation to lipid profile.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine the independent relationships of trunk fat, leg fat and arm fat to cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors, after controlling for relevant confounders such as fat mass index, cardiorespiratory fitness and objectively measured physical activity. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving 683 university students, aged 18-30 years. Total and regional body fat distribution was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The associations of trunk, leg and arm fat with CVD risk factors (triglycerides-TG-, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol-HDL-c-, TG/HDL-c ratio, HOMA(IR), mean arterial pressure, C-reactive protein) were examined using regression linear models, controlling for age, sex, fat mass index [total body fat(kg)/height(m(2))], maximal oxygen consumption and physical activity by accelerometer. RESULTS: After controlling for fat mass index, and other confounders, higher levels of trunk fat were found to be associated with a poorer lipid profile, while higher levels of leg fat were found to be associated with a better lipid profile. We did not find any association between arm fat and lipid profile after controlling for total fatness and other confounders. Neither trunk, leg or arm fat was found to be related to insulin resistance, blood pressure or inflammation markers. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the region where fat is accumulated might have a differential effect on lipid profile: trunk fat has an adverse effect, leg fat has a protective effect, and arm fat has no effect. The differences observed between upper- and lower-body peripheral fat depots should be further explored.

[The increase in the speed of the pulse wave is not associated with elevated central blood pressure in hypertensive patients with kidney disease]. / El aumento de la velocidad de la onda de pulso no seasocia con la elevación de la presión arterial centralen hipertensos con enfermedad renal.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between pulse wave velocity (PWV) and central blood pressure evaluated by augmentation index (AIx) in hypertensive patients with kidney disease. METHODS: 406 hypertensive patients with normal renal function and 72 with kidney disease. Arterial stiffness was estimated with the PWV and the AIx. We followed the 2007 European Guidelines of Hypertension criteria to assess the presence or absence of kidney disease. RESULTS: PWV was 8.98 ± 2.15 and 10.17 ± 3.01 m/s (p <0.05) and AIx 30.06% ± 12.46 and 30.23% ± 12.56 (p >0.05) in hypertensive patients with normal renal function and kidney disease, respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed the renal function as an important determinant of PWV, but not AIx. CONCLUSION: In hypertensive patients with renal disease PWV is increased, but not the AIx. We believe that the AIx is not a reliable measure of arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients with kidney disease.

[Differences between the CKD-EPI and the MDRD equations when estimating the glomerular filtration rate in hypertensive patients]. / Diferencias de la ecuación CKD-EPI con la de MDRD para la estimación del filtrado glomerular en pacientes hipertensos.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the agreement in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated with CKD-EPI and MDRD-IDMS equations in a cohort of hypertensive patients. METHODS: We included consecutively 478 hypertensive patients, mean age 57.58 yr (SD: 12.34), 68.3% males. The estimation of GFR was performed with MDRD-IDMS and CKD-EPI equations and we analyzed the agreement between them. RESULTS: The estimation of GFR with CKD-EPI was 4.37 (95%:3.73-4.19) mL/min/1,73 m2 higher than MDRD-IDMS, overall and by gender (males 3.99; females 5.04). In patients under 65 years the difference was greater, 6.55 (95%:5.95-7.15) mL/min/1.73 m2 in both men 6.07 and women 6.48. However, we found no significant difference over 65 years. Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.904 (95% CI:0.886-0.919), 0.897 men and 0.917 women and Kappa index 0.848 (95% CI :0.795-0.889), 0.845 men and 0.852 women. CONCLUSION: CKD-EPI equation estimated a higher GFR in hypertensive patients under 65 years and reclassified in stage 1 patients classified in stage 2 by MDRD-IDMS.

[Effectiveness of a quality improvement intervention in blood pressure control in Primary Care]. / Efectividad de una intervención de mejora de calidad en el control de la presión arterial en Atención Primaria.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of a quality improvement intervention on professionals sanitary in blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. METHODS: Quality improvement trials with cuasi-experimental design. Two primary care health centres. One centre was assigned intervention group (7 family doctors and 419 patients) and the other was control group (7 family doctors and 419 patients). The quality improvement intervention consisted of a combined program comprising audit, feedback, training sessions about main hypertension clinical guidelines during 6 months. The main measurement were blood pressure, lipid levels, diabetes, smoking and body index mass, antihypertensive drugs and record treatment adherence and therapeutic plan in march 2002 the baseline measurement and march 2004 the post intervention. RESULTS: In study group blood pressure systolic and diastolic decreased 8.16/3.71 mmHg and control group increased 1.56/0.13 mmHg, respectively. The intervention effect was a drop of 9.72 mmHg (IC 95%: 7.50-11.94) and diastolic blood pressure in 3.84 mmHg (IC 95%: 2.40-5.28). The rate of hypertensive patients with blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg increased from 37.5% to 68.8% in study group, without changes in control group (p < 0.05). The drugs and combination drugs prescribed increased in both group, while the records of therapeutics plans and adherence increased only in intervention group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The quality improvement intervention was associated to a systolic and diastolic blood pressure reduction and a increase of rate patients with blood pressure controlled.