Associations of ultra long-term visit-to-visit blood pressure variability, since childhood with vascular aging in midlife: a 30-year prospective cohort study

Abstract

Objective: Vascular aging, as assessed by structural and functional arterial properties, is an independent predictor of cardiovascular outcomes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the associations of ultra long-term blood pressure (BP) variability from childhood to midlife with vascular aging in midlife. Methods: Using data from the longitudinal cohort of Hanzhong Adolescent Hypertension Study, 2065 participants aged 6–18 years were enrolled and followed up with seven visits over 30 years. Ultra long-term BP variability (BPV) was defined as the standard deviation (SD) and average real variability (ARV) of BP over 30 years (seven visits). Vascular aging included arterial stiffness, carotid hypertrophy, and carotid plaque. Results: After adjusting for demographic variables, clinical characteristics and mean BP over 30 years, higher SDSBP, ARVSBP, SDDBP and ARVDBP since childhood were significantly associated with arterial stiffness in midlife. Additionally, higher SDDBP and ARVDBP were significantly associated with carotid hypertrophy and the presence of carotid plaque in midlife. When we used cumulative exposure to BP from childhood to midlife instead of mean BP as adjustment factors, results were similar. Furthermore, we found a significant association between long-term BPV from childhood to adolescence and the presence of carotid plaque, whereas long-term BPV from youth to adulthood is associated with arterial stiffness. Conclusion: Higher BPV from childhood to adulthood was associated with vascular aging in midlife independently of mean BP or cumulative BP exposure. Therefore, long-term BPV from an early age may serve as a predictor of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in later life.