Effect of Wave Reflection and Arterial Stiffness on the Risk of Development of Hypertension in Japanese Men

Background We conducted analyses of repeated‐measures data to examine whether pressure wave reflection acts additively or synergistically with arterial stiffness in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Methods and Results In 3172 middle‐aged (42±9 years) healthy Japanese men without hypertension at the study baseline, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity, and radial augmentation index were measured annually during a 9‐year study period. Of these, 474 participants (15%) developed hypertension by the end of the study period. Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated significant individual odds ratios for both baseline brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity and radial augmentation index for the development of hypertension. The rate of onset of hypertension during the study period was highest in the participant group with high values for both brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity and radial augmentation index at study baseline (262 of 965 participants: 27%). The generalized estimating equation analysis revealed that both radial augmentation index (estimate=0.06, SE=0.03, P =0.05) and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (estimate=0.07×10 −1 , SE=0.02×10 −1 , P <0.01) showed significant longitudinal association with new onset of hypertension, with no significant interaction. Conclusions In Japanese men, abnormal wave reflection and increased arterial stiffness may be additively associated with the risk of new onset of hypertension. Abnormal wave reflection and elevated central blood pressure may be longitudinally associated with increase in arterial stiffness, and this longitudinal association may be a mechanism underlying the additive effect of these 2 variables on the risk of new onset of hypertension.