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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

Relative contributions of different cardiovascular risk factors to significant arterial stiffness

Hae Guen Song1, Eung Ju Kim, Hong Seog Seo

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Republic of Korea.

International Journal of Cardiology
|December 2, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Older age and hypertension are the strongest predictors of arterial stiffness. Male gender, smoking, and diabetes also significantly contribute to arterial stiffness, impacting cardiovascular disease risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Vascular Physiology
  • Preventive Cardiology

Background:

  • Arterial stiffness is linked to cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, but individual contributions remain unclear.
  • Understanding these contributions is crucial for predicting and managing CV disease.
  • Arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of CV events.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the independent contribution of various CV risk factors to arterial stiffness.
  • To identify key predictors of significant arterial stiffness.
  • To establish a threshold for significant arterial stiffness based on coronary heart disease risk.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 835 outpatients without prior CV disease was studied.
  • Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) measured arterial stiffness.
  • Framingham Risk Score (FRS) assessed 10-year coronary heart disease risk.

Main Results:

  • baPWV correlated significantly with FRS (r=0.523, P<0.001) and independently predicted it.
  • Significant arterial stiffness (baPWV>1710 cm/s) was defined based on high 10-year CHD risk (FRS>20%).
  • Independent predictors of arterial stiffness included age >60 (OR 6.2), hypertension (OR 3.4), male gender (OR 1.9), smoking (OR 1.9), and diabetes (OR 1.6). Hyperlipidemia and obesity were not significant.

Conclusions:

  • Old age and hypertension are the most potent independent predictors of significant arterial stiffness.
  • Male gender, smoking, and diabetes mellitus are also significant independent predictors.
  • These findings aid in identifying individuals at higher risk for arterial stiffness and subsequent cardiovascular events.
Abstract

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