• Xinran Li, Rufeng Shi, Qingtao Meng, Xin Zhang, and Xiaoping Chen.
• Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
• Postgrad Med. 2021 Mar 1; 133 (2): 173-180.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the association between arterial stiffness and orthostatic hypotension (OH) and orthostatic blood pressure (BP) changes among Tibetans living at high altitude.MethodsA total of 630 high-altitude Tibetans were included (56.53 ± 10.16 years; 246 men). Arterial stiffness was assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). OH was defined as a decrease in systolic BP (SBP) >20 mmHg or a decrease in diastolic BP (DBP) >10 mmHg after 1 min or 3 min of moving from supine to standing position.ResultsThe prevalence of OH in this population was 6.3%. Compared with subjects without OH, the subjects with OH had a higher baPWV (P < 0.001). Multiple logistical regression found that baPWV was significantly associated with the occurrence of OH (OR 1.147, CI 95% 1.028-1.280, P = 0.014). Spearman correlation analysis showed that baPWV was negatively associated with orthostatic changes in SBP and DBP(r = -0.256, P < 0.001 and r = -0.194, P < 0.001, respectively). Further multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that baPWV was independently correlated with orthostatic BP changes (SBP: β = -0.599, P < 0.001; DBP: β = -0.333, P < 0.001). Moreover, increased baPWV was correlated with attenuation of orthostatic heart rate changes. No significant association was observed between hematocrit or hemoglobin concentration and OH.ConclusionBaPWV was significantly associated with the occurrence of OH and orthostatic changes in the SBP and DBP, which suggests that arterial stiffness may be a potential mechanism of impaired hemodynamic response to orthostatic challenges among high-altitude Tibetans.

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