Health · Medical Research · 1 hr ago
Blood pressure swings linked to higher death and stroke risk
A study of 57,611 UK Biobank participants found that bigger changes in blood pressure between visits were linked to a higher risk of death.
Researchers in the Netherlands followed participants for a median of 5.1 years, during which 1,460 died and 571 had a stroke.
Those with type 2 diabetes and highly variable systolic pressure were 2.8 times as likely to die as people with normal blood sugar and steadier readings.
The comparison included differences in both blood sugar and blood pressure, so the extra risk cannot be blamed on fluctuations alone.
The link with death remained after researchers accounted for average blood pressure and other factors, while some measures of variability were also associated with stroke.
The findings suggest blood pressure changes may add information beyond average readings, and the researchers say the pattern deserves closer investigation.
An observational study found that greater blood pressure variability was associated with a higher risk of death among 57,611 UK Biobank participants.
Participants with type 2 diabetes and highly variable systolic blood pressure were 2.8 times as likely to die during follow-up as those with normal blood sugar and low variability.
Greater variability in four blood pressure measures was associated with higher risk of death, even after accounting for average blood pressure and other factors.
Some measures of blood pressure variability were also associated with stroke.
The researchers said changes over time may provide information beyond average blood pressure readings.
- Who
- Researchers led by Dr. Fariba Ahmadizar studied 57,611 UK Biobank participants.
- What
- The study found that greater blood pressure variability was associated with higher death risk and that some measures were associated with stroke.
- When
- Follow-up lasted a median of 5.1 years.
- Where
- The study used UK Biobank participants’ readings; Ahmadizar and her colleagues were based in the Netherlands.
- Why
- The researchers examined whether blood pressure changes over time provided information about health risks beyond average readings.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers recorded participants’ blood pressure and blood sugar status.
Participants returned for at least one further blood pressure measurement, allowing researchers to assess variability.
Researchers followed participants for a median of 5.1 years, during which 1,460 died and 571 had a stroke.
- Participants
- 57,611 UK Biobank participants
- Median follow-up
- 5.1 years
- Deaths
- 1,460 participants
- Strokes
- 571 participants
- Diabetes and high systolic variability
- 2.8 times the death risk of the reference group
What people are saying
Our findings suggest that changes in blood pressure over time may provide information beyond the average blood pressure readings in routine care.