European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension versus the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines on the cut-off values for early hypertension: a microvascular perspective

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate retinal and peripheral microvascular function in asymptomatic individuals that fall into different BP groups when using either the ESC/ESH or the ACC/AHA guidelines. Retinal and peripheral microvascular function was assessed in 358 participants by means of dynamic retinal vessel analysis and digital thermal monitoring, respectively. Blood pressure and lipid panel were also evaluated. Retinal vascular function measured in all groups belonging to the ACC/ASH classifications were within the normal values for age-matched normal population. Individuals classed as grade 1 hypertension according to the ESC/ESH guidelines, however, exhibited a significantly decreased artery baseline (p = 0.0004) and MC (p = 0.040), higher slopeAD (p = 0.0018) and decreased vein MC (p = 0.0446) compared to age matched normal individuals. In addition, they also had significant lower artery baseline, artery BDF, MD and MC than individuals classed as stage 1 hypertension based on the ACC/ASH guidelines (p = 0.00022, p = 0.0179, p = 0.0409 and p = 0.0329 respectively). Peripheral vascular reactivity (aTR) was lower in ESC /ESH grade I compared to those graded ACC/ASH stage I hypertension (p = 0.0122). The conclusion of this study is that microvascular dysfunctions is present at multiple levels only in individuals with ESC/ESH grade 1 hypertension. This observation could be important when deciding personalised care in individuals with early hypertensive changes.

Impact of Bariatric Surgery-Induced Weight Loss on Anterior Eye Health in Patients with Obesity

“…Standard anthropometric measures of height and weight were recorded to determine body mass index (BMI = weight/height). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured using an automatic blood pressure monitor (UA-767; A&D Instruments Ltd., Abingdon, UK) to determine mean arterial pressure (MAP = 2/3 DBP + 1/3 SBP) [24]. Intra-ocular pressure (IOP) readings were obtained using non-contact tonometry (Pulsair; Keeler Ltd., Winsor, UK).…”

Retinal Microvascular Abnormalities and Systemic Arterial Stiffness Are the First Manifestation of Cardiovascular Abnormalities in Patients with Untreated Moderate to Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and with Low to Intermediate Cardiovascular Risk—A Pilot Study

“…Standard anthropometric measures of height and weight were recorded to determine body mass index (BMI = weight/height 2 ). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were measured using an automatic Blood Pressure monitor (UA-767; A&D Instruments Ltd., Abingdon UK) [ 13 ] to determine mean arterial pressure (MAP = 2/3 DBP + 1/3 SBP) [ 14 ]. Intraocular pressure (IOP) readings were obtained using non-contact tonometry (Pulsair; Keeler Ltd., Winsor, UK).…”

Oxysterols and Retinal Microvascular Dysfunction as Early Risk Markers for Cardiovascular Disease in Normal, Ageing Individuals

“…Retinal vessel reactivity was assessed using the dynamic retinal vessel analyzer (DVA, IMEDOS GmbH, Jena, Germany) in accordance with an already established protocol ( Figure 1 ) [ 4 , 31 ]. Only one randomly selected eye was measured.…”

“…Accordingly, many methods were developed to evaluate functional microvascular responses to biological stimuli in different vascular beds [ 2 ]. One of these methods, the dynamic retinal vessel analysis (DVA), was highlighted as one of the most sensitive and reliable methods to measure early vascular changes that point out early endothelial dysfunction and future risk of cardiovascular pathologies in individuals with and without overt clinical symptoms [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Moreover, it has also been shown that retinal microvascular function is modified by age [ 6 ].…”