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. 2022 Jan 5;35(1):79-86.
doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpaa183.

Central Hypertension in Patients With Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: Prevalence and Association With Aneurysm Size and Growth

Jasjit Rooprai  1 , Munir Boodhwani  2 , Luc Beauchesne  3 , Kwan-Leung Chan  3 , Carole Dennie  4 , George A Wells  5   6 , Thais Coutinho  3   7
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Central Hypertension in Patients With Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: Prevalence and Association With Aneurysm Size and Growth

Jasjit Rooprai et al. Am J Hypertens. .

Abstract

Background: Hypertension (HTN) has the greatest population-attributable risk for aortic dissection and is highly prevalent among patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs). Although HTN is diagnosed based on brachial blood pressure (bBP), central HTN (central systolic blood pressure [cSBP] ≥130 mm Hg) is of interest as it better reflects blood pressure (BP) in the aorta. We aimed to (i) evaluate the prevalence of central HTN among TAA patients without a diagnosis of HTN, and (ii) assess associations of bBP vs. central blood pressure (cBP) with aneurysm size and growth.

Methods: One hundred and five unoperated subjects with TAAs were recruited. With validated methodology, cBP was assessed with applanation tonometry. Aneurysm size was assessed at baseline and follow-up using imaging modalities. Aneurysm growth rate was calculated in mm/year. Multivariable linear regression adjusted for potential confounders assessed associations of bBP and cBP with aneurysm size and growth.

Results: Seventy-seven percent of participants were men and 49% carried a diagnosis of HTN. Among participants without diagnosis of HTN, 15% had central HTN despite normal bBP ("occult central HTN"). In these patients, higher central systolic BP (cSBP) and central pulse pressure (cPP) were independently associated with larger aneurysm size (β ± SE = 0.28 ± 0.11, P = 0.014 and cPP = 0.30 ± 0.11, P = 0.010, respectively) and future aneurysm growth (β ± SE = 0.022 ± 0.008, P = 0.013 and 0.024 ± 0.009, P = 0.008, respectively) while bBP was not (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: In patients with TAAs without a diagnosis of HTN, central HTN is prevalent, and higher cBP is associated with larger aneurysms and faster aneurysm growth.

Keywords: blood pressure; central hypertension; hypertension; thoracic aortic aneurysm.

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Graphical Abstract
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Distribution of central hypertension and relationship to TAA size. Abbreviations: HTN, hypertension; SBP, systolic blood pressure; TAA, thoracic aortic aneurysm.
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