News - Hypertension Week of April 6, 2003/ Vol. 2 No. 14

Study: Aortic Stiffness May Help Predict Risk of Fatal Stroke

The stiffness of the aorta may help predict a person's risk of a fatal stroke regardless of other risk factors, according to a study reported in the April 3 rapid access issue of Stroke.

In making these findings, researchers from Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou in France followed 1,715 patients with mild hypertension, but no overt signs of cardiovascular disease, for an average of eight years.

Each participant had some degree of aortic stiffness. Aging, environmental and genetic factors all play a role in decreasing the elasticity of the aorta. The stiffening of the aorta leads to high blood pressure.

The researchers believe that aortic stiffness may increase pulse pressure (the difference between the upper and lower numbers in a blood pressure reading) thereby increasing the likelihood of heart disease and stroke.

Arterial stiffness was gauged by measuring how long it took a pulse wave to move from the heart to other parts of the body. Stiffer arteries had higher pulse wave velocity numbers.

The predictive value of pulse wave velocity remained significant after adjusting for classic cardiovascular risk factors including age, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and high blood pressure.

Researchers concluded that aortic stiffness can predict the fatal stroke risk of hypertensive patients. However, they noted that large clinical trials using antihypertensive drugs that relieve arterial stiffness should be conducted to determine if the drugs can prevent stroke deaths.

Other sources: American Heart Association