Background: Augmentation pressure (AP) has been considered an absolute index that represents vascular stiffness.

Objective: To evaluate clinical and vascular parameters in a Brazilian population presenting hypertension and increased augmentation pressure.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate hypertensive patients, both genders, aged 30–75 years. Cardiovascular risk was estimated using SCORE by gender, age, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and smoking status. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was measured by Complior SP, aortic pressures and AP were obtained using SphygmoCor device, and intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured by carotid ultrasonography.

Results: Subjects (n=129) were divided into two groups according to AP median (16mmHg). Individuals with increased AP were older (59 vs 51 years, p<0.001) and presented higher SCORE (4,0 vs 2,5%, p<0.05), pulse pressure (66 vs 48mmHg, p<0.001), time of hypertension (16 vs 8 years, p<0.001), total cholesterol (216 vs 193mg/dl, p<0.01), cfPWV (10.9 vs 9.8m/s, p<0.01), carotid intima-media thickness (0.87 vs 0.67mm, p<0.05), and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (74 vs 84ml/min, p<0.01). All these variables were correlated with AP, but in a multiple linear regression, time of hypertension was the only parameter associated with AP.

Conclusion: Many clinical variables may contribute to an increased AP in hypertensive patients, and time of diagnosis seems to be important suggesting that intensive and early antihypertensive treatment could smooth the progress of patient’s vascular status.