As people age, changes in physiological function can cause an increased stiffness in conduit arteries, which can be reflected in their pulse pressure differences (the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure). Studies have shown that higher pulse pressure is associated with higher risks of cardiovascular diseases and mortality.
Methods: The data of this secondary analysis data were taken from the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study. Pulse pressure was measured by averaging the differences between 3 systolic and diastolic pressure readings taken during the participants’physical health examination at a contracted hospital. Descriptive statistics and bi-variate analyses was conducted between pulse pressure and other related variables. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between pulse pressure and the survival status among the study subjects six years later.
Results: the quartile cut-offs for pulse pressure among the studied subjects were 46, 54, and 66 mmHg. High pulse pressure was significantly associated with age, high systolic pressure and diastolic pressures, higher hemoglobin, globulin, higher homocysteine, higher blood glucose and higher glycosylated hemoglobin. Finally, logical regression models showed that pulse pressure was also significantly related to pulse pressure. Subjects with a higher pulse pressure was more likely to die 6 years later.
Conclusion: In addition to blood pressure, pulse pressure is also an important indictor for all-cause mortality among the elderly in Taiwan. More studies are needed to further our understanding on the effects of pulse pressure on cardiovascular diseases and mortality.
