Should We Measure Central Aortic Blood Pressure to Help Guide Antihypertensive Treatment?

Data from a small randomized trial suggest that using central BP, in addition to brachial BP, helps moderate the level of therapy that patients receive.

Some evidence shows that brachial measurements of blood pressure (BP) may overestimate cardiovascular risk and that using central aortic BP in the decision-making process may reduce the likelihood of overtreatment. Now, in an open-label, blinded-endpoint study funded in part by the maker of a system for measuring central BP, researchers in Australia randomized 286 patients with hypertension to have their antihypertensive-treatment decisions guided by usual care (home, office, and 24-hour ambulatory BP) or by usual care plus measurement of central aortic BP. At baseline, the number, classes, and daily defined doses (DDDs) of antihypertensive medications were similar between the two groups.

During 12 months of follow-up, the total antihyperten…

Reviewing Author

Joel M. Gore, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH–National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Joel M. Gore, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH–National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Should We Measure Central Aortic Blood Pressure to Help Guide Antihypertensive Treatment?

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Reviewing Author