Heart rate dependent and independent effects of beta-blockers on central hemodynamic parameters: a propensity score analysis

OBJECTIVES Central hemodynamic parameters are better predictors of the cardiovascular burden than peripheral blood pressure (BP). Beta-blockers are known to reduce central BP to a lesser extent than peripheral BP, a hypothesized mechanistic consequence of heart rate (HR) reduction. METHODS The association between beta-blocker use, HR and central hemodynamics indices was studied in treated hypertensive participants of the CARTaGENE study using propensity score analyses and multivariate linear regressions. RESULTS Of the 20 004 participants, 2575 were treated hypertensive patients with valid pulse wave analysis. Using propensity score analyses, beta-blocker users (n = 605) were matched to nonusers having similar clinical characteristics with (Model 1) and without (Model 2) adjustment for HR. This resulted in 457 and 510 pairs with adequate balance, except for a HR difference in Model 2 (62.5 ± 10.5 vs. 70.4 ± 11.5 bpm, p