Relationship of Retinal Vessel Caliber to Arterial Stiffness Parameters and Nocturnal Blood Pressure Dipping Status in Essential Hypertension

Abstract

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to compare the retinal vessel caliber (RVC) with both arterial stiffness (AS) parameters and nocturnal blood pressure dipping status (DS) in essential hypertension (EH). Materials and Methods: The retinal vessel diameter of 101 patients with EH and 31 sex- and age-matched healthy controls was measured using retinal fundus photography. Venous blood samples were obtained for biochemical tests and anthropometric measurements were also recorded. The AS parameters of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), augmentation index (AIx), and central aortic pressure (CAP) were assessed using a non-invasive TensioClinic arteriographic system (TensioMed Kft., Budapest, Hungary). DS was evaluated using 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements. The baseline characteristics, AS parameters, and the nocturnal DS of hypertensive patients were statistically compared with those of healthy individuals according to RVC values. Results: The hypertensive group had significantly higher heart rates (p=0.023); AS parameters (PWV [p