1. Central blood pressure: what do we really know today?

2. Significant and highly variable difference between aortic and brachial systolic pressure at all ages
Difference between brachial and aortic systolic blood pressure (SphygmoCor) in healthy men (dark blue bars;
n=2779) and women (light blue bars; n=2869). The data represent means plus standard deviation.
Published online: Eur Heart J. 2014;doi: /eurheartj/eht565.

3. Techniques for assessing central blood pressure
(A) Invasive cardiac catheterization; (B) direct applanation tonometry of the carotid artery;
(C) applanation tonometry of the radial artery; (D) cuff-based oscillometry at the brachial artery.
Published online: Eur Heart J. 2014;doi: /eurheartj/eht565.

4. Predictive value of central pressure has been investigated in a variety of patient cohorts
First author
Year, country
N, Population
Duration
Parameter
End-point
Outcome
Safar
2002, France
180, ESRD
1 year
Carotid PP
All-cause (including CV mortality)
Carotid PP but not carotid SBP or brachial SBP/PP remained independently associated with all-cause mortality after adjustment. Not mutually adjusted for brachial pressure.
Chirinos
2005, USA
324, Men with CAD
4 years
Aortic SBP and PP
All-cause mortality and MACE
Aortic PP independently associated with all-cause mortality after adjustment
Williams
2006, UK
2199, Hypertensives
Aortic PP
CV events and procedures
Aortic PP independently associated with CV events and procedures after adjustment. Not mutually adjusted for brachial pressure.
 Pini
 2008, Italy
 173, Geriatrics
 8 years
 Carotid SBP and PP
 CV mortality and events
Carotid SBP and PP independently associated with cardiovascular events and carotid SBP with fatal cardiovascular events. Association remained after adjusting for brachial BP.
 Wang
 2009, Taiwan
 1272, community
 10 years
 All-cause and CV mortality
Only carotid SBP predicted CV mortality after adjustment. No adjustment for brachial pressure.
Published online: Eur Heart J. 2014;doi: /eurheartj/eht565. Abbreviations: CV, cardiovascular; PP, pulse pressure; SBP, systolic blood pressure

5. Comparative effect of antihypertensive drugs on central systolic pressure
Published online: Eur Heart J. 2014;doi: /eurheartj/eht565.

6. ASCOT trial: difference in central aortic pressure is an important explanation for better outcomes in amlodipine-perindopril regimen
“By demonstrating that amlodipine-perindopril therapy is associated with substantially lower central aortic pressure than atenolol-thiazide therapy, the results of the CAFE study provide a plausible and novel mechanism to explain the effects of the different treatment arms in ASCOT.”
Williams B, Lacy PS, Thom SM, et al. Circulation. 2006;113: