Vascular compliance in hypertension

Pulse contour analysis was used to determine systemic arterial vascular compliance in hypertensive (HT) and normotensive (NT) subjects. In seven hypertensives aged 43-58 yrs (mean age 52.1+or-5.5 yrs) and seven normotensives aged 33-59 yrs (mean age 43.7+or-9.9 yrs) both large artery (C1) and distal arterial (C2) compliance were determined from a peripheral arterial pressure waveform and cardiac output. Age differences were not statistically significant. Mean arterial pressure was 29% higher in HT (p >