Relationship between some indices of cardiovascular functions and pulse pressure as a predictor index for heart diseases: a case-control study

Pulse pressure has recently been considered as a predictor of coronary heart disease. The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure is called pulse pressure. Various factors including increased age, vascular stiffness, stenosis, and hypertension are associated with pulse pressure. The present study, therefore, aimed to investigate the relationship between some cardiovascular function indicators such as vascular stenosis, blood pressure and cardiac output with pulse pressure as a predictor of cardiovascular diseases.

This case-control study was performed on 544 patients who were referred to Imam Ali Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran, from March 2015 to February 2016. In this study, according to the angiographic findings, individuals with artery stenosis were considered as the case group (n=272) and those without artery stenosis were considered as the control group (n=272). Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and odds ratio estimation by SPSS22 software.

According to the findings of this study, ages over 50 (OR: 3.3, 95% CI: 2.1-5.2), high systolic blood pressure (OR: 8, 95% CI: 4.3-15.2), high diastolic blood pressure (OR: 4.9, 95% CI: 2.0-11.7), cardiac output less than 50% (OR: 1.8%, 95% CI: 1.3-2.7) and vascular stenosis (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 2.4-5.1) were associated with high pulse pressure. The male gender had a preventive role in increasing of pulse pressure (OR: 0.7, 95% CI: 0.5-0.9). A significant relationship was demonstrated between systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure (P<0.0001).

Based on the findings of the present study, the chances of having high pulse pressure are high among individuals over 50 years of age, female gender, those with elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and individuals with high coronary artery stenosis. This chance is associated with decreased cardiac output and coronary stenosis. Increased pulse pressure is a predictive indicator of cardiovascular disease and it is recommended that pulse pressure measurements of all referrals, especially those who are being referred to cardiology clinics, are taken into account by medical professionals to prevent adverse clinical outcomes.