Independent prognostic information provided by sphygmomanometrically determined pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure in patients with left ventricular dysfunction

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of ba seline pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure to mortality in patients w ith left Ventricular dysfunction. BACKGROUND Increased conduit vessel stiffness increases pulse pressure and pulsatile load, potentially contributing to adverse outcomes in patients wi th left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS Pulse and mean arterial pressure were analyzed for their effect on mortality, adjusting for other modifiers of risk, using Cox proportional ha zards regression analysis of data collected from 6,781 patients randomized into the Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction trials. RESULTS Pulse and mean arterial pressure were related positively to each ot her, age, ejection fraction and prevalence of diabetes and hypertension and inversely to prior myocardial infarction and beta-adrenergic blocking agen t use. Higher pulse pressure was associated with increased prevalence of fe male gender, greater calcium channel blocking agent, digoxin and diuretic u se, lower heart rate and a higher rate of reported smoking history. Higher mean arterial pressure was associated with higher heart rate, lower calcium channel blocker and digoxin use and lower New York Heart Association funct ional class. Over a 61-month follow-up 1,582 deaths (1,397 cardiovascular) occurred. In a multivariate analysis adjusting for the above covariates and treatment assignment, higher pulse pressure remained an independent predic tor of total and cardiovascular mortality (total mortality relative risk, 1 .05 per 10 mm Hg increment, 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.10; p = 0.02 ). Mean arterial pressure was inversely related to total and cardiovascular mortality (total mortality relative risk, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0 .85 to 0.94; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION One noninvasive blood pressure measurement provides two independ ent prognostic factors for survival. Increased conduit vessel stiffness, as assessed by pulse pressure, may contribute to increased mortality in patie nts with left ventricular dysfunction, independent of mean arterial pressur e. (J Am Coil Cardiol 1999;33:951-8) (C) 1999 by the American College of Ca rdiology.