title: Pulse pressure amplification and its determinants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulse pressure (PP) amplification expressed as the peripheral-to-central PP ratio has gained importance in the assessment of cardiovascular phenotypes and cardiovascular risk. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between PP amplification, large vessel parameters and peripheral blood pressure (BP) to gain insights into the amplification phenomenon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral BP, central BP and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) were assessed using the OMRON M6, SphygmoCor and Complior devices, respectively, in 741 adults attending the hypertension outpatient clinic. Analysis of covariance, partial correlations and multiple linear regression models were performed to assess the relationship between PP amplification, peripheral BP and cfPWV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PP amplification was inversely related to BP group. Women showed lower PP amplification than men (1.24 ± 0.18 and 1.35 ± 0.18, respectively, p < 0.001). Age, female gender and mean arterial pressure were inversely associated with PP amplification (p < 0.001), whereas heart rate and body mass index showed positive associations (p < 0.001 and p = 0.049, respectively). cfPWV was a predictor of PP amplification in men but not in women (p = 0.006 and p = 0.424, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PP amplification is related to BP: the higher the BP, the lower the PP amplification. Gender, age and body composition have a significant impact on PP amplification.
authors.affiliation: a Hypertension Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine , Clinical Hospital of Valencia, INCLIVA, University of Valencia , Valencia , Spain.
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pichler
authors.affiliation: a Hypertension Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine , Clinical Hospital of Valencia, INCLIVA, University of Valencia , Valencia , Spain.|b CIBEROBn, Carlos III Health Institute , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: a Hypertension Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine , Clinical Hospital of Valencia, INCLIVA, University of Valencia , Valencia , Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vicente
authors.affiliation: a Hypertension Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine , Clinical Hospital of Valencia, INCLIVA, University of Valencia , Valencia , Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Solaz
authors.affiliation: a Hypertension Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine , Clinical Hospital of Valencia, INCLIVA, University of Valencia , Valencia , Spain.|b CIBEROBn, Carlos III Health Institute , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Calaforra
authors.affiliation: a Hypertension Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine , Clinical Hospital of Valencia, INCLIVA, University of Valencia , Valencia , Spain.|b CIBEROBn, Carlos III Health Institute , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Redon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D062186:Arterial Pressure; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Adult; blood pressure; body composition; gender characteristics; hemodynamics; pulse wave analysis