Estudo da rigidez arterial central em idosos portadores de níveis pressóricos classificados como ótimo/normal

Abstract

Introduction: Pulse wave velocity is used to diagnose central arterial stiffness (CAS) and quantify healthy arterial aging (HVA). Objective: To evaluate the CAS and HVA in elderly patients with systemic blood pressure levels classified as optimal/normal. Methods: A total of 102 patients without comorbidities and with systolic pressure (SP) <120 mmHg and diastolic pressure (DP) <80 mmHg were selected from the EVOPIU database (Pulse Wave Velocity of Elderly Individuals in an Urban area of Brazil). The carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (c-fPWV) was evaluated in all patients and the central and peripheral pressures. The patients were divided into four groups: G1: (n = 19, with c-fPWV <7.6 m/s, without medication), G2 (n = 26, c-fPWV ≥ 7.6 m/s; without medication), G3 (n = 25, c-fPWV <7.6 m/s with antihypertensive medication) and G4 (n = 32, c-fPWV ≥7.6 m/s with antihypertensive medication). Results: In our sample, 56.7% of patients had c-fPWV ≥ 7.6 m/s. The central systolic pressure in G1 was lower than that found in the other three groups [99 (10) mmHg vs. 112 (14) mmHg vs. 111 (15) vs. (112 (20) mmHg; P <0.05). Conclusion: Older people with optimal arterial blood pressure do not necessarily have HVA and could have c-fPWV values close to the limits established for CAS diagnosis.