Analysis of arterial stiffness: a further look at hypertension

Abstract

An estimated 18 million deaths per year worldwide from cardiovascular disease (CVD), one third of all deaths. 10.4 million related to arterial hypertension (AH) [1]. AH is the main modifiable cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the adult population and a risk factor (RF) independent of CVD [1]. The use of methods that provide early identification of changes and cardiovascular needs can improve the treatment and control strategy of these patients [2]. The consolidation of the PWV (pulse wave velocity) measurement in the assessment of arterial stiffness has led several studies to demonstrate the association of this phenotype with the risk of developing different manifestations of CVD [3], constituting the gold standard due to reproducibility and confidence method and association, mainly, with cardiovascular risk in different groups [3]. The changes that an antihypertensive agent produces in arterial stiffness can be independent of pressure, directly affecting the arterial wall through remodeling of the elastic network and collagen fiber or dependent on pressure, occurring indirectly through the reduction of blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular outcomes, when therapy is corrected early [3].