β‐Blockers and Vascular Hemodynamics in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease

Aortic augmentation index ( AI x) is a marker of central aortic pressure burden and is modulated by antihypertensive drugs. In patients with peripheral arterial disease ( PAD ) undergoing antihypertensive treatment, aortic pressures parameters, heart rate–adjusted augmentation index ( AI x75), and unadjusted AI x were determined. The (aortic) systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not differ between PAD patients who were taking β‐blockers (n=61) and those who were not taking β‐blockers (n=80). In patients taking β‐blockers, augmentation pressure and pulse pressure were higher than in patients who did not take β‐blockers (augmentation pressure, P =.02; pulse pressure, P =.005). AI x75 was lower in PAD patients taking β‐blockers than in patients not taking β‐blockers ( P =.04), while the AI x did not differ between PAD patients taking and not taking β‐blockers. The present study demonstrates that β‐blockers potentially affect markers of vascular hemodynamics in patients with PAD . Because these markers are surrogates of cardiovascular risk, further studies are warranted to clarify the impact of selective β‐blocker treatment on clinical outcome in patients with PAD .