The effect of hypertension on cerebrovascular carbon dioxide reactivity in atrial fibrillation patients

© 2024. The Author(s)..

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and hypertension (HTN) are both associated with impaired cerebrovascular carbon dioxide reactivity (CVRCO2), an indicator of cerebral vasodilatory reserve. We hypothesised that CVRCO2 would be lower in patients with both AF and HTN (AF + HTN) compared to normotensive AF patients, due to an additive effect of AF and HTN on CVRCO2. Forty AF (68 ± 9 years) and fifty-seven AF + HTN (68 ± 8 years) patients underwent transcranial Doppler ultrasound measurement of middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCA Vm) during stepped increases and decreases in end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2). A cerebrovascular conductance index (CVCi) was calculated as the ratio of MCA Vm and mean arterial pressure (MAP). CVRCO2 was determined from the linear slope for MCA Vm and MCA CVCi vs PETCO2. Baseline MAP was higher in AF + HTN than AF (107 ± 9 vs. 98 ± 9 mmHg, respectively; p < 0.001), while MCA Vm was not different (AF + HTN:49.6 [44.1-69.0]; AF:51.7 [45.2-63.3] cm.s-1; p = 0.075), and CVCi was lower in AF + HTN (0.46 [0.42-0.57] vs. 0.54 [0.44-0.63] cm.s-1.mmHg-1; p < 0.001). MCA Vm CVRCO2 was not different (AF + HTN: 1.70 [1.47-2.19]; AF 1.74 [1.54-2.52] cm/s/mmHg-2; p = 0.221), while CVCi CVRCO2 was 13% lower in AF + HTN (0.013 ± 0.004 vs 0.015 ± 0.005 cm.s-1.mmHg-1; p = 0.047). Our results demonstrate blunted cerebral vasodilatory reserve (determined as MCA CVCi CVRCO2) in AF + HTN compared to AF alone. This may implicate HTN as a driver of further cerebrovascular dysfunction in AF that may be important for the development of AF-related cerebrovascular events and downstream cognitive decline. We demonstrated reduced cerebrovascular CO2 responsiveness in atrial fibrillation with hypertension (AF+HTN) vs. atrial fibrillation (AF). Furthermore, AF per se (as opposed to normal sinus rhythm) predicts reduced cerebrovascular CO2 responsiveness. Our findings suggest additional cerebrovascular dysfunction in AF+HTN vs. AF.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - year:2024

Enthalten in:

Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension - (2024) vom: 10. Apr.

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Walsh, Harvey J [VerfasserIn]
Junejo, Rehan T [VerfasserIn]
Lip, Gregory Y H [VerfasserIn]
Fisher, James P [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Atrial fibrillation
Carbon dioxide
Cerebral blood flow
Hypertension
Journal Article

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 10.04.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status Publisher

doi:

10.1038/s41440-024-01662-2

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM370895983