The relationship of the baseline ECG to blood pressure change

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Abstract
A total of 1090 [human] male participants (aged 23-80 yr) of the Normative Aging Study who had baseline BP < 140/90 mm Hg were observed prospectively for 10 yr. Blood pressures were taken at 5 and 10 yr follow-up examinations. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that baseline levels of systolic pressure, age, R-wave amplitude (aV1), hematocrit, T-wave amplitude (V5) and S-wave amplitude (V4, V5 and V6) were statistically significant predictors of systolic pressure change. Baseline levels of diastolic pressure, R-wave amplitude (aV1) and hematocrit were statistically significant predictors of diastolic pressure change. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that baseline levels of BP, S-wave amplitude (V1, V2 and V3), body mass index, R-wave amplitude (V4, V5 and V6) and T-wave amplitude (V5) were statistically significant predictors of subsequent hypertension. Whether the identified ECG amplitudes are an indicator of early increases in peripheral resistance or a function of neurohumoral factors, or both, is unknown.