Blood Pressure Fragmentation as a New Measure of Blood Pressure Variability: Association with Predictors of Cardiac Surgery Outcomes
This study introduces a novel measure for assessing beat-to-beat blood pressure variability (BPV) called blood pressure fragmentation (BPF). It examines the association of increased preoperative BPF with older age, higher cardiac surgical risk, and longer ICU stay after cardiac surgery. A sample of 497 patients undergoing cardiac surgery was analyzed, showing that higher systolic BPF is linked to older age, increased surgical risk scores, and extended ICU stays. The study suggests BPF as a potential tool for preoperative health status and risk stratification, encouraging further research into its utility.