Prevalence and incidence rates of heart failure are high. In individuals aged 55, almost 1 in 3 will develop heart failure during their remaining lifespan. Heart failure continues to be a fatal disease, with only 35% surviving 5 years after the first diagnosis.

Arterial stiffness is independently associated with orthostatic hypotension. The drop in blood pressure levels and the contemporary attenuated response of heart rate to orthostatic challenge in subjects with stiffer arteries support the hypothesis that arterial stiffness may explain, at least in part, the reduced baroreflex observed in older adults.

No abstract