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. 2010 Jul-Aug;4(4):187-95.
doi: 10.1016/j.jash.2010.04.005.

Enhanced blood pressure variability in a high cardiovascular risk group of African Americans: FIT4Life Study

Praveen Veerabhadrappa  1 , Keith M Diaz, Deborah L Feairheller, Kathleen M Sturgeon, Sheara Williamson, Deborah L Crabbe, Abul Kashem, Debra Ahrensfield, Michael D Brown
Affiliations

Enhanced blood pressure variability in a high cardiovascular risk group of African Americans: FIT4Life Study

Praveen Veerabhadrappa et al. J Am Soc Hypertens. 2010 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

High blood pressure (BP) levels in African Americans elicit vascular inflammation resulting in vascular remodeling. BP variability (BPV) correlates with target organ damage. We aimed to investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers and BPV in African Americans. Thirty-six African Americans underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). BPV was calculated using the average real variability index. Fasting blood samples were assayed for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and white blood cell (WBC) count. Significant associations between hs-CRP and 24-hour systolic variability (r=0.50; P=.012) and awake systolic variability (r=0.45; P=.02) were identified after adjusting for age, body mass index, and 24-hour mean BP. ABPM variables were compared between the hs-CRP tertile groups. In post-hoc analysis, there was a significant difference in 24-hour and awake periods for both systolic and diastolic variability among the groups. TNF-alpha and WBC count showed no associations with ABPM variables. hs-CRP was associated with systolic variability, and higher levels of hs-CRP were related with greater BPV. Higher inflammatory status influences wider fluctuations in systolic BP, which in turn could facilitate early progression to target organ damage independent of absolute BP levels in African Americans.

Keywords: African Americans; Blood pressure variability; high sensitivity C-reactive protein; inflammation; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; white blood cells.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The relationship of 24-hr systolic BP, 24-hr systolic BP variability with hs-CRP
24-hr SBP, 24-hr Ambulatory Systolic Blood Pressure; 24-hr ARV, 24-hr Ambulatory Blood Pressure Average Real Variability.
Figure 2
Figure 2. The relationship of Awake systolic BP, Awake systolic BP variability hs-CRP
Awake SBP, Awake Ambulatory Systolic Blood Pressure; Awake ARV, 24-hr Ambulatory Blood Pressure Average Real Variability.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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