Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Cf-PWV) to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
05:51

Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Cf-PWV) to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness

Published on: May 3, 2018

The relationship between pulse wave velocity and pulse pressure in Chinese patients with essential hypertension

Yongbin Ni1, Hongyu Wang, Dayi Hu

  • 1Department of Cardiology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, PR China.

Hypertension Research : Official Journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension
|January 13, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a key indicator of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients. This study found PWV strongly predicts pulse pressure in Chinese essential hypertension patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Hypertension Research
  • Clinical Biomechanics

Background:

  • Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a recognized cardiovascular disease predictor.
  • Limited research exists on PWV in Chinese essential hypertension patients.
  • Hypertension and its sequelae are significant public health concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate aortic PWV in a large cohort of Chinese essential hypertension patients.
  • To determine the relationship between PWV, pulse pressure, and blood pressure components.
  • To assess PWV as a determinant of pulse pressure in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 3,156 Chinese patients from Ruijin Hospital's Hypertension Division.
  • Measured aortic PWV using a validated automatic device.
  • Recorded sphygmomanometric blood pressure measurements, including systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, and calculated pulse pressure (PP).

Main Results:

  • PWV was significantly higher in patients with pulse pressure (PP) ≥ 60 mmHg.
  • Both PP and PWV showed positive correlations with age.
  • After adjusting for age and heart rate, PWV remained closely related to PP (r = 0.249, p = 0.001).
  • PWV demonstrated complex relationships with SBP and DBP, decreasing with rising DBP at constant SBP and increasing with rising SBP at constant DBP.

Conclusions:

  • Aortic PWV is a major determinant of pulse pressure in Chinese essential hypertension patients.
  • PWV was highest in patients with isolated systolic hypertension, followed by systolic-diastolic hypertension, isolated diastolic hypertension, and normal blood pressure.
  • Findings highlight PWV's clinical significance in assessing cardiovascular risk in this demographic.

More Related Videos

Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging06:08

Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Published on: February 7, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Blood Pressure01:24

Blood Pressure

The movement of blood in a human body, commonly referred to as blood flow, is determined by the volume of blood that traverses a certain section of the bodily system per unit time. It is the rhythmic contraction of the heart's ventricles that primarily instigates this movement. As the ventricles contract, blood is forced into the prominent arteries, which then flow from areas of greater pressure to lower pressure areas. This movement continues into smaller arteries and arterioles and...
Blood Pressure01:30

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure or force of blood exerted on the artery's walls as it circulates through the body. It is essential for maintaining blood flow throughout the body.
The average BP in an adult is typically around 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). In this measurement, the numerator (120) indicates the systolic pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries during the contraction of the heart's ventricles as blood is expelled. The denominator (80) represents the diastolic...
Pulse amplitude and quality01:17

Pulse amplitude and quality

Pulse amplitude is a crucial indicator of cardiac health because it provides valuable insights into the strength of left ventricular contractions and the overall uniformity of blood circulation within the vasculature. The strength of the pulse is directly related to the force with which the heart contracts and the volume of blood being pumped.
A weak or absent pulse may indicate reduced cardiac output or poor left ventricular contraction, which can be signs of cardiovascular dysfunction or...
Measurement of Blood Pressure01:17

Measurement of Blood Pressure

Assessing blood pressure is a standard procedure executed in virtually all medical environments. The method utilized today was established over a hundred years ago by an innovative Russian doctor, Dr. Nikolai Korotkoff. The soft ticking noise, known as Korotkoff sounds, heard while taking blood pressure readings results from turbulent blood flow within the vessels. The apparatus required for this procedure includes a sphygmomanometer, a blood pressure cuff attached to a gauge, and a stethoscope.
Pulse01:16

Pulse

When the heart pumps blood out, arterial elastic fibers play a crucial role in sustaining a high-pressure gradient. They expand to accommodate the received blood and then recoil - a process known as the pulse that can be either manually palpated or electronically quantified. Despite a reduction in its effect with increased distance from the heart, elements of the pulse's systolic and diastolic components persist, observable even at the arteriole level.
The pulse serves as a clinical indicator...
Pulse01:05

Pulse

The pulse is one of the most fundamental physiological indicators of the body's cardiovascular health. It is the rhythmic expansion and contraction of the arterial walls in response to the pressure generated by the heart's pumping action.
Pulse Rate and its Significance
Pulse rate, often measured in beats per minute (bpm), reflects the heart rate (HR), which is influenced by numerous factors such as stress, physical activity, and hormonal changes. A normal resting adult pulse rate falls between...