Impact of hypertension severity on arterial stiffness, cerebral vasoreactivity, and cognitive performance

• Autor(a) principal: Muela,Henrique Cotchi Simbo
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Outros Autores: Costa-Hong,Valeria A., Yassuda,Monica Sanches, Machado,Michel Ferreira, Nogueira,Ricardo de Carvalho, Moraes,Natalia C., Memória,Claudia Maia, Macedo,Thiago A., Bor-Seng-Shu,Edson, Massaro,Ayrton Roberto, Nitrini,Ricardo, Bortolotto,Luiz A.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Dementia & Neuropsychologia
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1980-57642017000400389
• topic: hypertension; vascular changes; arterial stiffness; cerebral blood flow; cognitive performance

ABSTRACT. Aging, hypertension (HTN), and other cardiovascular risk factors contribute to structural and functional changes of the arterial wall. Objective: To evaluate whether arterial stiffness (AS) is related to cerebral blood flow changes and its association with cognitive function in patients with hypertension. Methods: 211 patients (69 normotensive and 142 hypertensive) were included. Patients with hypertension were divided into 2 stages: HTN stage-1 and HTN stage-2. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and a battery of neuropsychological (NPE) tests were used to determine cognitive function. Pulse wave velocity was measured using the Complior®. Carotid properties were assessed by radiofrequency ultrasound. Central arterial pressure and augmentation index were obtained using applanation tonometry. Middle cerebral artery flow velocity was measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. Results: Both arterial stiffness parameters and cerebral vasoreactivity worsened in line with HTN severity. There was a negative correlation between breath holding index (BHI) and arterial stiffness parameters. Cognitive performance worsened in line with HTN severity, with statistical difference occurring mainly between the HTN-2 and normotension groups on both the MMSE and MoCA. The same tendency was observed on the NPE tests. Conclusion: Hypertension severity was associated with higher AS, worse BHI, and lower cognitive performance.