Aim: To investigate correlation between ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) parameters and central aortic pressure (CAP) parameters (which are the main indicators of arterial stiffness), such as: augmentation index (AIx); augmentation index, normalized for heart rate 75/min (AIx75); augmentation pressure (AP); central systolic (SPa) and pulse pressure (PPa) in patients with hypertension.

Material-Methods: 100 hypertensive patients at the age of 22–73 years (mean age 54±10,8) were examined, 57% women. Investigation included electrocardiography, echocardiography, ABPM, determination of serum lipids and creatinine. CAP was measured with applanation tonometry of radial artery using SphygmoCor device.

Results: Mean levels of AP, SPa, PPa positively correlated with 24h systolic BP (SBP) (r=0,23; r=0,63; r=0,5 respectively; p<0,05), 24h PP (r=0,35; r=0,52; r=0,66 respectively; p<0,05), daytime and nighttime SBP (r=0,21; r=0,67; r=0,5 and r=0,19; r=0,5; r=0,44 respectively; p<0,05), high BP load (HIdx) and area under curve (HIpt) of SBP (r=0,19; r=0,6; r=0,47 and r=0,23; r=0,61; r=0,48 respectively; p<0,05). AIx, AP, PPa negatively correlated with heart rate (HR) (r=−0,22, p<0,05). AIx, AIx75, AP, SPa correlated positively with the diurnal variability (SD) of SBP (r=0,19; r=0,24; r=0,25; r=0,31 respectively; p<0,05). SPa had positive correlation with 24h diastolic BP (DBP) (r=0,44; p<0,05), daytime and nighttime DBP (r=0,48 and r=0,37 respectively; p<0,05), HIdx and HIpt of DBP (r=0,42 and r=0,45 respectively; p<0,05), SD of DBP (r=0,24; p<0,05).

Conclusions: According to our study results, parameters of CAP positively correlates with all parameters of ABPM, except HR. Arterial wall stiffness increases in response to lower HR and/or higher BP during 24h.