Fluctuations in blood pressure over time linked to death and strokes, analysis of UK data finds
Greater variation in blood pressure between research visits was associated with a higher risk of death in a study of more than 57,000 UK Biobank participants. Variation in some blood pressure measures was also associated with stroke. The findings were presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy, Sept. 28–Oct. 2.
A study of over 57,000 UK participants found that greater fluctuations in blood pressure between research visits were linked to a higher risk of death, according to research presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Milan (9/28-10/2). Variation in several blood pressure measures correlated with increased stroke risk.
Participants with both high variability in systolic blood pressure and diabetes faced nearly three times the death risk compared to those with normal blood sugar and low variation. Researchers from the Netherlands noted that blood pressure variability is not currently considered when evaluating health, but these results could help identify high-risk patients.
After adjusting for factors like average blood pressure and blood sugar status, each one-standard-deviation increase in systolic blood pressure variability correlated with an 11% higher death risk. The corresponding increase for diastolic blood pressure variability was 8%. Greater variability in diastolic and mean arterial pressure also raised stroke risk by 12% and 10%, respectively.
While the study suggests blood pressure variability could identify high-risk individuals, more research is needed to confirm the link and assess whether reducing fluctuations could lower stroke or death risk.
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