{"id":14852,"date":"2019-10-06T10:00:32","date_gmt":"2019-10-06T15:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/?p=14852"},"modified":"2019-10-05T17:48:56","modified_gmt":"2019-10-05T22:48:56","slug":"arm-cuff-blood-pressure-measurements-may-fall-short-for-predicting-heart-disease-risk-in-some-people-with-resistant-high-blood-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/2019\/10\/06\/arm-cuff-blood-pressure-measurements-may-fall-short-for-predicting-heart-disease-risk-in-some-people-with-resistant-high-blood-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Arm cuff blood pressure measurements may fall short for predicting heart disease risk in some people with resistant high blood pressure"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AmericanNew Orleans, LA<\/strong> – A measurement of central blood pressure in people with difficult-to-treat high blood pressure<\/a> could help reduce risk of heart disease better than traditional arm cuff readings for some patients, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association\u2019s Hypertension 2019 Scientific Sessions.  <\/p>\n

Central blood pressure, also called blood pressure amplification, is measured at the aorta, the artery closest to the heart.<\/p>\n

\"Reducing<\/a>

Reducing heart disease risk in people with difficult-to-treat high blood pressure involves more than controlling blood pressure based on arm cuff measurements. (American Heart Association)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Researchers found this measurement can more accurately reflect heart disease risk in people with treatment-resistant high blood pressure based on findings from their study.   <\/p>\n

\u201cWe found that higher differences in blood pressure between the arm and the aorta are associated with increased incidence of heart disease in the general population,\u201d said Badhma Valaiyapathi, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., lead study author and a postdoctoral fellow in vascular biology at the hypertension clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe looked specifically at people whose high blood pressure is resistant to treatment, meaning patients\u2019 arm blood pressure readings remain out of control despite the patient being on high blood pressure medications,\u201d  Valaiyapathi stated.<\/p>\n

The researchers studied adult patients with high blood pressure<\/a> including some with difficult-to-treat high blood pressure. Blood pressure and pulse pressure were measured using the traditional arm cuff as well as with pulse wave analysis, to measure central blood pressure when the heart is pumping.<\/p>\n

Based on the measurements, patients were categorized into three groups: controlled nonresistant blood pressure; controlled resistant blood pressure; and uncontrolled resistant blood pressure.  Blood pressure amplification was calculated as the difference between the two measures.    <\/p>\n

The highest blood pressure amplification was found in patients with uncontrolled resistant high blood pressure. The lowest blood pressure amplification was noted among patients who were in the controlled non-resistant category, explaining why risk severity tends to be highest among some adults who have uncontrolled high blood pressure and are resistant to certain medications, according to Valaiyapathi.  <\/p>\n

\u201cThe findings imply that amplification of blood pressure and pulse pressure remains high in patients with resistant hypertension regardless of blood pressure control,\u201d he said. \u201cThis means their arteries are stiffer than patients with controlled blood pressure, and they\u2019re having problems in their vessels that are leading to heart disease even though they are on medications and even though their blood pressure is under control.\u201d  <\/p>\n

[320left]Valaiyapathi suggested doctors should tailor blood pressure treatment for treatment-resistant high blood pressure patients by taking into consideration central blood pressure, amplification and reinforcing the importance of lifestyle modifications<\/a> to patients \u2014 not only medications<\/a> \u2014 to reduce heart disease risk.    <\/p>\n

Among the limitations of the study are its small size and that it was done in the southern U.S., so the results might not be reproducible in the general U.S. population.   <\/p>\n

Co-authors are Tanja Dudenbostel, M.D.; Mohammed Siddiqui, M.D.; Bin Zhang, Ph.D.; Maria El Hachem, M.D.; Suzanne Oparil, M.D.; and David A. Calhoun, M.D. Author disclosures are in the abstract. <\/p>\n

The National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association-funded Strategically Focused Research Networks initiative funded this research. <\/p>\n

Additional Resources:<\/b><\/p>\n