Association of ambulatory blood pressure variability with coronary artery calcium.

Blood pressure (BP) variability is associated with progression to clinical atherosclerosis. The evidence is inconclusive if BP variability predicts cardiovascular outcomes in low-risk populations. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of 24-hour BP variability with coronary artery calcium (CAC) among a group of individuals without coronary artery disease. The Masked Hypertension Study targeted patients with borderline high BP (120-149 mm Hg systolic and/or 80-95 mm Hg diastolic). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed at two time-points, 8 days apart. CAC was measured at exit visit via cardiac CT and reported as Agatston Score. Weighted standard deviations and average real variability were calculated from ABPM. Of the 322 participants who underwent cardiac CT, 26% (84) had CAC present, 52% (168) were female, and 21% (64) were black. BP variability did not differ by CAC group. In this low cardiovascular risk group, CAC was not associated with 24-hour ambulatory BP variability.