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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Cf-PWV) to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
Published on: May 3, 2018
Arterial stiffness, isolated systolic hypertension, and cardiovascular risk in the elderly
Hélène Safar1, Anne Chahwakilian, Yasmina Boudali
1Geriatric Unit, Sainte Périne Hospital, Paris, France.
Insights
Isolated systolic hypertension is a key cardiovascular risk in older adults. Increased arterial stiffness and early wave reflections contribute to this condition, highlighting targets for improved hypertension drug treatment.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Isolated systolic hypertension is a significant cardiovascular risk factor in the elderly population.
- Arterial stiffness and early wave reflections are primary contributors to systolic hypertension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the role of arterial stiffness and wave reflections in elderly hypertension.
- To inform optimization of drug treatments for cardiovascular risk reduction in the elderly.
Main Methods:
- Assessment of systolic blood pressure.
- Measurement of pulse pressure, pulse wave velocity, and carotid wave reflections.
Main Results:
- Systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, pulse wave velocity, and carotid wave reflections are all strong cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly.
- These factors are linked to increased arterial stiffness and early wave reflections.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the determinants of systolic hypertension in the elderly is crucial.
- Further optimization of drug therapies is needed to improve cardiovascular outcomes.
Abstract:
Isolated systolic hypertension is an important cardiovascular risk factor in the elderly. In addition to systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, pulse wave velocity, and carotid wave reflections are also strong cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly, as a consequence of the two main determinants of systolic hypertension: increased arterial stiffness and early wave reflections. Taken together, all these findings should help to optimize drug treatment, which has been shown to produce important but thus far insufficient beneficial effects on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
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