Central blood pressure more closely reflects the load placed on the left ventricle and the coronary and cerebral vasculature.

It is a more accurate marker of risk and outcomes, and a more appropriate target for interventions.
Being a more sensitive measure of cardiovascular risk and outcomes, central blood pressure better defines who has hypertension, who needs treatment and what treatment targets should be.

• Central BP provides different information to peripheral BP
• Central BP better defines hypertension
• Central BP better predicts cardiovascular outcomes
• Central BP better predicts risk
• Central BP responds to hypertensive management

“Central blood pressure is considered to be a more accurate indicator of the pressure the heart and other vital organs experience.”

“This is the first time central blood pressure has been used to guide decisions on blood pressure treatment.”

“The main finding was that significantly less medication was needed to achieve healthy blood pressure levels when treatment decisions were based on central blood pressure. Sixteen per cent of the participants came off medication altogether.”

“These are important findings because people taking these medications can experience unwanted side effects that impact on quality of life, but these adverse effects are less likely with lower doses.”

“We are very excited by the results which provide the framework for a better way to care for people with high blood pressure,”

Associate Professor Sharman
26 Sep 2013