Clinical characteristics of the total study population and groups of patients with low and normal SAC
| Variables | Total study population (n=1641) | Low SAC (n=545) | Normal SAC (n=1096) | P value |
| Age (years) | 67±10 | 72±8 | 65±10 | <0.001 |
| Women (%) | 38 | 48 | 33 | <0.001 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 145±20 | 152±21 | 142±19 | <0.001 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 82±10 | 83±11 | 82±10 | 0.003 |
| Central pulse pressure (mm Hg) | 59±10 | 65±10 | 56±9 | <0.001 |
| Heart rate (beats/min) | 66±12 | 68±11 | 65±12 | <0.001 |
| Hypertension (%) | 83.8 | 92.7 | 79.4 | <0.001 |
| Antihypertensive treatment (%) | 56.7 | 62.9 | 53.6 | <0.001 |
| ACE inhibitor (%) | 15.2 | 16.0 | 14.9 | 0.562 |
| ARB (%) | 10.2 | 13.0 | 8.8 | 0.007 |
| Calcium antagonist (%) | 17.0 | 18.2 | 16.4 | 0.376 |
| Beta-blocker (%) | 27.6 | 31.9 | 25.5 | 0.006 |
| Diuretics (%) | 23.5 | 30.6 | 20.0 | <0.001 |
| Alpha-blocker (%) | 2.0 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 0.042 |
| Height (m) | 1.71±0.09 | 1.69±0.09 | 1.71±0.09 | <0.001 |
| Weight (kg) | 78±15 | 78±15 | 78±14 | 0.625 |
| Body surface area (cm²) | 1.90±0.20 | 1.88±0.20 | 1.90±0.20 | 0.025 |
| Obesity (%) | 20.5 | 25.3 | 18.2 | <0.001 |
ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; SAC, systemic arterial compliance.