Long-Term Blood Pressure Variability and Physical Performance in Older Adults

High variability in long-term blood pressure (BPV) independently predicts cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. Increased BPV and declining physical performance may share mechanistic pathways. However, associations of BPV with gait speed and grip strength have not been examined. We completed a gender-stratified analysis of 16 692 participants enrolled in ASPREE/ASPREE-XT. Systolic and diastolic BPV were estimated from baseline-year 2 (Y2); gait speed/grip strength were assessed every 1–2 years following this period. Linear mixed models examined gait speed/grip strength trajectories over a median of 7.3 years of follow-up after Y2. Following adjustment, men with SBPV in tertile 3 (T3) versus T1 had slower gait speed at Y2 (0.021 m/s slower) and greater declines in gait speed (0.003 m/s greater decline/year, p < 0.001). Women with SBPV in T3 versus T1 had slower gait speed at Y2 (0.018 m/s slower), but similar rates of gait speed decline. Men with higher SBPV had weaker grip strength at Y2 (0.994 kg weaker for BPV T3 vs. T1) and greater declines in grip strength (0.016 kg greater decline/year/5 mmHg increase in BPV, p = 0.006). Women with BPV in T3 versus T1 had 0.486 kg weaker grip strength at Y2, but similar rates of grip strength decline. Associations of DBPV and SBPV with gait speed/grip strength were largely consistent. In summary, we found that higher BPV was independently associated with slower gait speed and weaker grip strength cross-sectionally in men and women, but only associated with trajectories of gait speed and grip strength in men. Future studies should examine high BPV as a target to preserve physical performance.

Trial Registration: ISRCTN number: ISRCTN83772183; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01038583