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Measurement variation of aortic pulse wave velocity in the elderly
K Sutton-Tyrrell1, R H Mackey, R Holubkov
1Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA. Tyrrell@edc.gsph.pitt.edu
Insights
Accurate measurement of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is reproducible in elderly populations. This study confirms reliable PWV assessment even with newly trained sonographers and readers, supporting its use in cardiovascular disease research.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular physiology
- Medical imaging
- Gerontology
Background:
- Arterial stiffness is a key indicator of cardiovascular risk.
- Accurate and reproducible measurement of arterial stiffness is crucial for population studies.
- Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a primary measure of arterial stiffness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reproducibility of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements.
- To assess intra- and inter-observer and inter-visit variability in PWV assessment.
- To determine the reliability of PWV measurements in an elderly population.
Main Methods:
- Aortic PWV was measured in 14 elderly participants.
- Data were collected by two sonographers and read by two readers.
- Reproducibility was assessed using correlation analyses and difference calculations over multiple visits.
Main Results:
- The overall reliability coefficient for PWV was 0.77.
- Between-sonographer and between-reader correlations ranged from rP = 0.73 to 0.87.
- Between-visit correlations were rP = 0.63, indicating good reproducibility.
Conclusions:
- Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurement demonstrates good reproducibility in elderly individuals.
- The method is reliable even with newly trained sonographers and readers.
- PWV is a reproducible measure suitable for population-based cardiovascular disease studies.
Abstract:
Accurate and reproducible measures are required to study arterial stiffness in human populations. The reproducibility of aortic pulse wave velocity was evaluated in 14 participants from a population-based study of cardiovascular disease in the elderly. Three data files were collected per participant by each of two sonographers and files were read by two readers. Seven of the 14 participants returned for a second visit 1 week later to assess between-visit variability. Reproducibility was evaluated with Pearson and intraclass correlations and by the absolute value of the difference between replicate values. The overall reliability coefficient was rI = 0.77. Between-sonographer, between-reader, and between-visit correlations were rP = 0.80 to 0.87, rP = 0.73 to 0.89 and rP = 0.63. The mean absolute value of the difference between replicates was 59.4 to 94.0 cm/sec and 88.7 to 112.8 cm/sec for sonographers and readers, respectively. These results indicate that the mean PWV measure is reproducible even when sonographers and readers are newly trained.