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Confounding effects of heart rate on pulse wave velocity in paced patients with a low degree of atherosclerosis

Erik Haesler1, Xavier Lyon, Etienne Pruvot

  • 1Service d'Hypertension et de Médecine Vasculaire, CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland. erik.haesler@chuv.hospvd.ch

Journal of Hypertension
|June 18, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Heart rate (HR) influences pulse wave velocity (PWV), a measure of arterial stiffness. This study shows HR is a significant modulator of PWV even in individuals with minimal atherosclerosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Pulse wave velocity (PWV) assesses arterial stiffness and is influenced by blood pressure.
  • The role of heart rate (HR) in modulating PWV is debated, particularly in individuals with preserved arterial elasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate heart rate (HR) as a determinant of pulse wave velocity (PWV) variability.
  • To evaluate this relationship in patients with a low degree of atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

  • Carotid-femoral PWV was measured in 14 patients post-pacemaker implantation at rest and during atrial pacing (80, 90, 100 bpm).
  • Arterial femoral blood flow (AFBF) was assessed using echodoppler.
  • Blood pressure (BP) was monitored throughout the study.

Main Results:

  • PWV significantly increased with paced HR, rising from 6.2 m/s at rest (62 bpm) to 7.6 m/s at 100 bpm (P < 0.0001).
  • Systolic and mean blood pressure remained constant across all HR levels.
  • Arterial femoral blood flow (AFBF) demonstrated a linear increase with rising HR.

Conclusions:

  • Heart rate (HR) is a significant modulator of carotid-femoral PWV.
  • This effect is evident even in patients with a low degree of atherosclerosis, suggesting HR should be considered in PWV assessments.
Abstract

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