Blood pressure regulation change with ageing: in-depth analysis of 1439 subjects with arterial hypertension and autonomic neuropathy.

Fanelli, Elvira [UCL] Persu, Alexandre [UCL]

INTRODUCTION : Blood pressure (BP) regulation is affected by ageing through different mechanisms, including alteration of neural control. Blood pressure variability (BPV) and heart rate variability (HRV) reflect the interaction of BP control mechanisms, and both increased BPV and reduced HRV have been associated to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to assess BPV and HRV in hypertensive subjects in different age ranges and to compare them with subjects with established primary cardiovascular dysautonomia, i.e., Parkinson and related diseases.