Open AccessAtrial fibrillation is associated with increased central blood pressure and arterial stiffness
Author(s) -
Pauklin Priit,
Eha Jaan,
Tootsi Kaspar,
Kolk Rein,
Paju Rain,
Kals Mart,
Kampus Priit
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/jch.14323
Subject(s) - medicine , atrial fibrillation , arterial stiffness , pulse wave velocity , cardiology , blood pressure , heart rate , confounding , pulse pressure
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice and beta blockers (BBs) are the drugs of choice for rate or rhythm control in these patients. The purpose of this study was to describe differences in arterial stiffness (AS), central blood pressure (cBP), and the role of BBs on cBP in patients with AF compared to healthy individuals. The authors included 76 patients with paroxysmal/persistent AF. Carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and cBP were measured and compared with data from 75 healthy individuals. Patients with AF had higher PWV (8.0 m/s vs. 7.2 m/s, p < .001), central systolic blood pressure (cSBP) (118 mm Hg vs. 114 mm Hg, p = .033), central pulse pressure (cPP) (39 mm Hg vs. 37 mm Hg, p = .035) and lower pulse pressure amplification (PPA) (1.24 vs. 1.30, p = .015), without differences in peripheral blood pressure (pBP) and heart rate (HR). AF patients had significantly increased PWV (β= 0.500, p = .010, adjusted R² = 0.37) after adjustment for confounding factors. The use of BBs significantly reduced PPA (β = ‐0.059, p = .017, adjusted R² = 0.30). AF patients have higher PWV, cSBP, cPP, and lower PPA, compared to healthy patients. These findings support the role of AS in the development of AF. Use of BBs is related to a potential adverse effect on cBP.