Short-term daytime systolic blood pressure variability was independently associated with arterial stiffness in prehypertension (OR per unit increase in SD 1.02; 95% CI 1.01-1.04; P<0.05).
Cohort (n=8,504)
Does short-term blood pressure variability associate with arterial stiffness in a prehypertensive population?
Short-term daytime systolic blood pressure variability is independently associated with arterial stiffness in prehypertensive individuals, suggesting its potential utility for early vascular risk stratification.
Odds Ratio: 1.02 (95% CI 1.01–1.04)
p-value: p=<0.05
Objective: Short-term blood pressure (BP) variability has been increasingly recognized as a potential indicator of cardiovascular risk, but its association with arterial stiffness among individuals with prehypertension remains unclear. We aimed to comprehensively evaluate the association between multiple short-term BP variability indices, derived from 24-hour Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM), and arterial stiffness in a prehypertensive population. Design and method: In this community-based prospective cohort study, residents aged 35-80 years with office BP within the range of 120-139/80-89 mm Hg were included in the Ambulatory 24-hour ABPM and Evaluation of Cardiovascular Risk in Prehypertensive Population (AMEC-Pre) study (ChiCTR2300073286). Short-term systolic BP variability indices, including the standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), average real variability (ARV), and variability independent of the mean (VIM), were calculated using ABPM data for daytime, nighttime, and 24-hour periods. Arterial stiffness was evaluated using brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and was defined as a baPWV of 1800 cm/s or greater. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to assess the associations between BP variability and arterial stiffness after controlling for potential confounding factors. Results: Among the 8,504 participants, 7,465 (87.8%) had arterial stiffness. Daytime systolic BP variability was significantly associated with arterial stiffness (adjusted odds ratio OR per unit increase: 1.02 95% CI: 1.01–1.04 for SD, 1.02 95% CI: 1.01–1.05 for CV, and 1.02 95% CI: 1.01–1.04 for VIM; all P<0.05). No significant associations were observed for nighttime or 24-hour variability. Stratified analyses revealed stronger associations among men (OR for SD: 1.03 95% CI: 1.01–1.06) and among participants younger than 60 years (OR for SD: 1.03 95% CI: 1.01–1.06). Results remained robust in sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: Short-term daytime systolic BP variability shows an independent association with arterial stiffness among individuals with prehypertension, particularly among men and participants younger than 60 years. These results underscore the potential utility of short-term BP variability as an early factor for vascular risk stratification and prevention.
Liu et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Prehypertension (n=8,504). Short-term daytime systolic blood pressure variability was evaluated on Arterial stiffness (baPWV ≥ 1800 cm/s) (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.04, p=<0.05). Short-term daytime systolic blood pressure variability was independently associated with arterial stiffness in prehypertension (OR per unit increase in SD 1.02; 95% CI 1.01-1.04; P<0.05).