DBP with age

Q: Overall, Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) tends to increase with age.

A) True

B) False

Answer: B

Various factors contribute to the decrease in diastolic pressure with age, particularly after age 55. The aorta starts to stiffen, reducing its elastic reservoir capacity. This causes more blood to be ejected with each stroke during systole, reducing the blood volume in the aorta at the onset of diastole. Overall, systemic vessels exhibit diminished elastic recoil, leading to a fall in diastolic pressure with age. This phenomenon is universal across the board, including normotensive and hypertensive patients.

#hemodynamics

References:

1. Franklin SS, Gustin W 4th, Wong ND, et al. Hemodynamic patterns of age-related changes in blood pressure. The Framingham Heart Study. Circulation 1997; 96:308.

2. Folkow B. Structure and function of the arteries in hypertension. Am Heart J 1987; 114:938.