Reduced total arterial compliance in frail older adults is associated with orthostatic blood pressure variability but not baroreflex sensitivity.
7 affiliations
- 1Cardiorespiratory & Physiology of Exercise Research Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada.
- 2Graduate Program in Physical Education and Kinesiology and Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, 49100-000, Brazil.
- 3Laboratory of Inflammation and Exercise Immunology, Department of Physical Education, School of Physical Education, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brazil.
- 4Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, T2N 2T8, Canada.
- 5Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence and Careggi University Hospital, Florence, 50134, Italy.
- 6Discipline of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland.
- 7Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada;; Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface General Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Abstract
Background
Total arterial compliance (TAC) reflects arterial elasticity and may be associated with baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and beat-by-beat blood pressure variability (BPV) during postural transitions. Frailty is also associated with impaired autonomic cardiovascular regulation, which may further compromise blood pressure control during orthostatic stress. However, these relationships have not been investigated in frail older adults. We hypothesized that frail participants would exhibit lower TAC than non-frail participants and that reduced TAC would be associated with impaired autonomic regulation.Methods
Community-dwelling older adults aged 60-79 years were classified as non-frail (n=28) or frail (n=22) using the Frailty Index. Participants completed sitting-to-standing and lying-to-standing transitions with continuous cardiovascular monitoring. TAC was estimated as the stroke volume-to-pulse pressure ratio, BRS using the sequence method, and BPV using frequency-domain analysis. General linear models compared TAC between groups. Correlation and regression analyses examined associations between TAC, BRS, and BPV, adjusting for frailty status and medication use.Results
Frail participants exhibited lower TAC than non-frail participants during both conditions (all p < 0.05). TAC was not associated with BRS during either orthostatic transition (both p > 0.05). In contrast, lower TAC was associated with greater systolic BPV during sitting-to-standing (SBPV-VLF: β = -0.46, p = 0.006) and lying-to-standing (SBPV-VLF: β = -0.60, p < 0.001; SBPV-LF: β = -0.56, p < 0.001; SBPV-HF: β = -0.32, p = 0.04).Conclusions
These findings suggest that impaired arterial compliance contributes to orthostatic autonomic dysfunction in frail older adults primarily through reduced vascular buffering rather than impaired cardiovagal baroreflex function.
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BibTeX
@article{matos2026reduced,
title = {{Reduced total arterial compliance in frail older adults is associated with orthostatic blood pressure variability but not baroreflex sensitivity.}},
author = {Dihogo Gama de Matos and Felipe J Aidar and Albena Nunes-Silva and Govind Peringod and Vincenzo Giambusso and Roman Romero-Ortuno and Todd A Duhamel and Rodrigo Villar},
journal = {The Journal of frailty \& aging},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.tjfa.2026.100214},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42867998},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Reduced total arterial compliance in frail older adults is associated with orthostatic blood pressure variability but not baroreflex sensitivity.
AU - Dihogo Gama de Matos
AU - Felipe J Aidar
AU - Albena Nunes-Silva
AU - Govind Peringod
AU - Vincenzo Giambusso
AU - Roman Romero-Ortuno
AU - Todd A Duhamel
AU - Rodrigo Villar
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - The Journal of frailty & aging
DO - 10.1016/j.tjfa.2026.100214
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42867998
AB - Background Total arterial compliance (TAC) reflects arterial elasticity and may be associated with baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and beat-by-beat blood pressure variability (BPV) during postural transitions. Frailty is also associated with impaired autonomic cardiovascular regulation, which may further compromise blood pressure control during orthostatic stress. However, these relationships have not been investigated in frail older adults. We hypothesized that frail participants would exhibit lower TAC than non-frail participants and that reduced TAC would be associated with impaired autonomic regulation.Methods Community-dwelling older adults aged 60-79 years were classified as non-frail (n=28) or frail (n=22) using the Frailty Index. Participants completed sitting-to-standing and lying-to-standing transitions with continuous cardiovascular monitoring. TAC was estimated as the stroke volume-to-pulse pressure ratio, BRS using the sequence method, and BPV using frequency-domain analysis. General linear models compared TAC between groups. Correlation and regression analyses examined associations between TAC, BRS, and BPV, adjusting for frailty status and medication use.Results Frail participants exhibited lower TAC than non-frail participants during both conditions (all p < 0.05). TAC was not associated with BRS during either orthostatic transition (both p > 0.05). In contrast, lower TAC was associated with greater systolic BPV during sitting-to-standing (SBPV-VLF: β = -0.46, p = 0.006) and lying-to-standing (SBPV-VLF: β = -0.60, p < 0.001; SBPV-LF: β = -0.56, p < 0.001; SBPV-HF: β = -0.32, p = 0.04).Conclusions These findings suggest that impaired arterial compliance contributes to orthostatic autonomic dysfunction in frail older adults primarily through reduced vascular buffering rather than impaired cardiovagal baroreflex function.
SN - 2260-1341
SN - 2273-4309
ER -