Central arterial blood pressure is the pressure in the aorta, which determines the stress and damage on the heart and central vessels. Lower central arterial blood pressure readings have been shown to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular and renal outcomes.
In the trial, named CAFE, the Norvasc-based regimen lowered central arterial blood pressure significantly more than the atenolol (beta blocker) based regimen, being approximately 4.3mm/Hg lower for central systolic blood pressure and 3.0mm/Hg lower for central pulse pressure.
“CAFE demonstrates for the first time in a major clinical outcomes trial that blood pressure lowering drugs have significantly different effects on central arterial blood pressure, despite having a similar impact on peripheral blood pressure,” said Dr Bryan Williams, professor of medicine at the department of cardiovascular sciences at the University of Leicester, UK.
Peripheral blood pressure measurement, which is taken through the use of an arm cuff, is widely regarded as a practical yet less precise substitute for measuring central arterial blood pressure.
The results from the trial were presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association in Dallas, Texas.