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Updated: Jul 14, 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

Arterial stiffness and cardiovascular outcome

Sophia Zoungas1, Roland P Asmar

  • 1Centre for Vascular Health, Monash University, Dandenong Hospital, Dandenong, Victoria, Australia. sophia.zoungas@med.monash.edu.au

Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology
|June 22, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Arterial stiffness, measured by aortic pulse wave velocity, independently predicts cardiovascular events. Measuring arterial stiffness is most valuable in individuals with minimal existing disease to assess future cardiovascular risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Vascular Biology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Arterial function indices correlate with cardiovascular risk factors and events like heart attack and stroke.
  • Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a key indicator of arterial stiffness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the predictive value of arterial function indices for cardiovascular outcomes.
  • To determine the independent role of aortic pulse wave velocity and augmentation index in risk stratification.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing studies on arterial function indices and cardiovascular events.
  • Analysis of data supporting the independent predictive value of specific arterial measures.

Main Results:

  • Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) strongly and independently predicts cardiovascular events across diverse populations.
  • Augmentation index shows predictive value for mortality and events in specific patient groups (coronary, renal disease), but its utility is debated in others (hypertension, dialysis).
  • Systemic arterial compliance has not demonstrated independent predictive value for cardiovascular outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Aortic pulse wave velocity is a reliable independent predictor of cardiovascular events.
  • The clinical utility of augmentation index varies by patient population.
  • Arterial stiffness and compliance measurements offer the greatest prognostic value in individuals with low baseline cardiovascular risk or minimal end-organ damage.

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