Impaired control of heart rate leads to increased blood pressure variability.
Blood pressure variability has been studied from 24-h direct arterial pressure recordings in 109 subjects (36 normals and 73 hypertensives). Baroreflex sensitivity was also measured. From the 24-h record a linear relationship was found between systolic pressure and heart period. The slope was related to baroreflex sensitivity (r = 0.66, P less than 0.001). Those with shallow slopes had a high systolic pressure level and greater variability, thus efficient control of heart rate limits blood pressure variability.
D001794:Blood Pressure; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D013599:Systole; D013997:Time Factors