PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH INCREASED ARTERIAL STIFFNESS IN A HYPERTENSION UNIT

Objective: Arterial stiffness is related to the increase in morbidity and mortality of patients with arterial hypertension (HTN). The characteristics of a sample of patients where PWV was performed. Our goal was to look for differential characteristics among those with increased PVW. Design and method: Retrospective study of patients assessed in the hypertension unit of a tertiary hospital during 2019. Patients were assessed through ABPM by Space labs(R), Ankle brachial index by ABI Huntleigh (R) and PWV measured by Sphygmocor®. Characteristics of patients with High PWV are presented. Results: A total of 22 patients were included, mean age was 60 (± 18.1), average abdominal circumference was 99.3 cm (± 18) and average BMI was 28.55 kg/m2 (± 6.4). Office Blood pressure (BP): Mean systolic BP of 156mmHg (± 22), a mean diastolic BP of 76.58mmHg (± 10.89), a mean heart rate (HR) of 69bpm (± 10), mean central systolic BP of 135.66mmHg (± 10.76) and mean central diastolic BP of 81mmHg (± 12.4). An ankle-brachial index (ABI) was performed on 9 patients, with a mean right ABI of 120 (± 11.87) with a mean intima media thickness (IMG) of 626 (± 206.1) and a mean left ABI of 118 (± 14.61) with an IMT of 631.7 (± 143.83). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed in 11 of the patients, which showed a mean systolic BP of 138mmHg (± 17.57), mean diastolic BP of 75mmHg (± 11.65), and mean HR of 68bpm (± 11.94). Regarding the correlation with the laboratory findings, a mean glucose value of 108 g/dL (± 29.9), mean triglycerides of 146.9mg/dL (± 54), mean cholesterol of 191.27mg/dL (± 40.94), mean LDL of 114mg/dL (± 36.57) and mean HDL of 48.7mg/dL (± 11.37), and a mean glomerular filtration rate of 64ml/min (± 14.25). This sample was compared with patients with non-pathological PWV, with no significant differences between the groups. Conclusions: We did not find statistically significant associations, in our data, that would allow us to differentiate patients who had pathological OPV during the first visit. More studies are needed