Association Between Long-Term Blood Pressure Variability and 10-Year Progression in Arterial Stiffness

Experimental studies conducted on animal and human endothelium suggested that higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) variability reduces bioavailability of nitric oxide and increases vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. These vascular wall changes could stiffen the arterial wall. Using data from the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, we investigated the association between long-term SBP variability and 10-year percent change in arterial stiffness among 1122 individuals (mean age 57 years, 46% males at baseline) who were not taking antihypertensive medications. Within-individual standard deviation, variability independent of the mean, and coefficient of variation of SBP across 5 visits were used to capture long-term SBP variability. Carotid arterial stiffness was measured using distensibility coefficient and Young's elastic modulus at baseline and after a mean of 9.5 years of follow-up (visit 5). In a multivariate linear regression model, individuals in the fifth quintile as compared with those in the first quintile of standard deviation, variability independent of the mean, and coefficient of variation of SBP had a 9.8% (95% confidence interval CI -17.0%, -2.7%), 6.4% (95% CI -13.2%, 0.4%), and 8.7% (95% CI -15.4%, -1.9%) higher decline in distensibility coefficient and a 27.5% (95% CI 15.8%, 39.3%), 25.8% (95% CI 14.7%, 36.9%), and 27.9% (95% CI 16.8%, 39.1%) higher progression in Young's elastic modulus, respectively, after 10 years of follow-up. Linear trends in the decline of distensibility coefficient and progression of Young's elastic modulus were observed across the quintiles of SBP variability indices. These findings suggest that higher long-term SBP variability may be a risk factor for arterial stiffness progression independent of mean BP.