Blood pressure variability: Methodological aspects, mechanisms and clinical relevance

Blood pressure variability: Blood pressure is characterized by continuous fluctuations over time. Methods for measuring blood pressure variability: The availability of techniques for continuous monitoring of intraarterial ambulatory blood pressure has offered a method of obtaining a detailed quantification of the blood pressure fluctuations, either through simple mathematical calculations (standard deviation) or through more complex analysis procedures (for example, spectral analysis and mathematical models). Mechanisms of blood pressure variability: Some of the mechanisms involved in determining blood pressure variability, such as behavioural factors and autonomic cardiovascular modulation, will be briefly reviewed. Blood pressure variability as a risk factor: The possible role of blood pressure variability as an additional independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease will also be discussed.