Baroreceptor reflex sensitivity is associated with arterial stiffness in a population of normotensive and hypertensive patients

Objectives Baroreceptor reflex sensitivity (BRS) is an important factor in the homeostatic regulation of the cardiovascular system. Arterial stiffening also provides direct evidence of target organ damage in hypertensive patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a possible association between BRS and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in a population of normotensive and hypertensive patients. Patients and methods A consecutive series of 160 patients underwent office blood pressure (BP) measurements, 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring, a 15-min electrocardiographic and noninvasive BP monitoring, and carotid–femoral PWV measurements. Power spectral analysis was carried out to calculate cardiac BRS, expressed as the alpha-index. The study population was divided into two groups according to the office BP values: patients with systolic and diastolic BP<140/90 mmHg were defined as normotensives, whereas patients with systolic BP≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP≥90 mmHg were defined as hypertensives. Results Hypertensive patients (79%) had significantly higher PWV values (P=0.004) and a lower alpha-index (P<0.001) than the normotensive patients (21%). Multivariate linear regression analyses showed significant and independent associations of PWV with the following factors: age [0.510, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.260–0.760; P<0.001], 24-h systolic BP (0.320, 95% CI: 0.120–0.520; P=0.002), and log(alpha-index) (−1.465, 95% CI: −2.686 to −0.244; P=0.019). A 1 ms/mmHg decrease in the log(alpha-index) correlated to an increment of 1.465 m/s (95% CI: 0.244–2.686) in the PWV of the study population. Conclusion Increased arterial stiffness is significantly and independently associated with impaired BRS in normotensive and hypertensive patients.