IJCS | Volume 33, Nº2, March / April 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36660/ijcs.20190020 Introduction Guidelines for the management of hypertension have recommended an early diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypertension as a fundamental strategy to reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular events. 1-3 In this regard, the use of biomarkers can increase the accuracy of the diagnosis, especially in patients with borderline hypertension and in patients with stage 1 hypertension. In these patients, in up to 18% of the cases, cardiovascular risk is underestimated by the conventional risk stratification model. 4,5 The best biomarkers for risk stratification in hypertensive patients are intima–media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery and pulse-wave velocity (PWV). 1,2,6,7 There is strong evidence that PWV is a method capable of identifying subclinical lesions and accurately determining the risk stratification for 145 ORIGINAL ARTICLE International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 2020; 33(2):145-150 Mailing Address: Weimar Kunz Sebba Barroso Souza Liga de Hipertensão Arterial - Hospital das Clínicas - Av. Universitária, s/n. Postal Code: 74605-020. Goiânia, GO - Brazil. E-mail: sebbabarroso@gmail.com Tonometric and Oscillometric Methods for Measurement of Central Blood Pressure Parameters: a Comparison in Patients with Borderline Hypertension or Stage 1 Hypertension Weimar Kunz SebbaBarroso, 1,2, 3 C laudia FerreiraGoncalves, 2, 3 J oaoAlexandreCostaBerigo, 2, 3 M ilenaAndrade Melo, 1, 2 A naCarolinaArantes, 1, 2 E llenDeSouzaLelis, 4 W atilaMouraSousa, 1, 2 J eezianeMarcelinoRezende, 1, 2 Thiago Jardim, 1,2, 3 P aulo Cesar Jardim, 1,2, 3 A na Luiza Lima Sousa, 1, 2 Priscila Valverde Oliveira Vitorino 4 Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências da Saúde - UFG,¹ Goiânia,GO - Brazil Liga de Hipertensão Arterial - UFG,² Goiânia, GO - Brazil Faculdade de Medicina - UFG,³ Goiânia, GO - Brazil Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás, 4 Goiânia, GO - Brazil Manuscript received February 05, 2019; revised manuscript June 30, 2019; accepted September 25, 2019. Abstract Background: Changes in arterial compliance are among the first changes detectable in hypertensive syndrome. Methods with good reproducibility as compared with the gold standard for identifying such changes are desirable in clinical practice. Objectives: To compare central pressure measurements and arterial stiffness obtained by two non-invasive methods (tonometry and oscillometry). Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of patients with borderline hypertension or stage 1 hypertension. Peripheral and central blood pressure measurements were obtained by tonometry (SphygmoCor®), considered the gold standard, and oscillometry (Mobil O´graph®). Comparisons of results were made by unpaired t-test, and p values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: No difference was found in central pressure measurements obtained by SphygmoCor® (117 x 80.1 mmHg) compared with Mobil O’graph (112 x 81.4 mmHg). Mean augmentation index (AIx) was 26.1% and 21.3%, and mean pulse pressure (PP) amplification 10.7 mmHg and 10.0 mmHg by Sphygmocor® and Mobil O´graph®, respectively (p > 0.05). Mean pressure wave velocity (PWV), 8.4 m/s vs. 7.4 m/s (p = 0.013) and mean central pulse pressure, 37.7 mmmHg and 30.9 mmHg (p = 0.013) were significantly higher by SphygmoCor® than Mobil O´graph®. Conclusion: Values of central systolic blood pressure, AIx and pulse pressure amplification obtained by oscillometry were not statistically different compared with tonometry; values of PWV and cPP, however, were underestimated by oscillometry. (Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2020; 33(2):145-150) Keywords: Hypertension; Risk Factors; Blood Pressure; Vascular Stiffness.