Haemodynamic determinants of elevated pulse wave velocity during acute isometric handgrip exercise
1Dept of Cardiology, St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny. kieran.reid@tufts.edu
Background:
Measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV) provides a reliable index of vascular stiffness. Despite its widespread application, the physiological interrelationships between PWV, blood pressure (BP) and in particular, heart rate (HR), have yet to be fully elucidated. Furthermore, little is known about altered arterial compliance during acute exercise.
Aim:
To examine the effects of 3-min supine non-dominant isometric handgrip exercise (ISOMEX), performed at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction, on carotid-radial PWV, BP and HR in the dominant arm of 51 healthy subjects.
Results:
During exercise, PWV correlated strongly with diastolic BP (r = 0.55, p < 0.01) and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.51, p < 0.01). PWV and HR failed to correlate at rest or during exercise.
Conclusion:
ISOMEX invoked an elevated PWV, which is predominantly related to BP or factors determining it, and not HR. The carotid-radial PWV stress test is a simple measurement that may have prognostic potential for use in large-scale population studies.
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