Pulse wave velocity and coronary risk stratification.
M I Mendonça1, R Palma Reis, A C Sousa
1Unidade de Investigação do Hospital Central do Funchal, Serviço de Cardiologia do Hospital Central do Funchal, Funchal, Portugal. dep.card@srs.pt
Summary
Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is higher in high-risk groups and correlates with cardiovascular disease markers. This suggests PWV is a useful tool for assessing vascular status and stratifying risk in both healthy and coronary patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular physiology
- Vascular biology
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Arterial stiffness is a key indicator of cardiovascular disease risk.
- Noninvasive measurement of arterial stiffness is of significant clinical interest.
- Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a widely accepted index for assessing arterial stiffness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of PWV in risk stratification for cardiovascular disease.
- To assess PWV in both healthy individuals and patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Main Methods:
- Study included 510 asymptomatic controls (Group A) and 301 coronary patients (Group B).
- Participants were categorized based on the presence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and/or diabetes.
- Statistical analyses included Student's t test, chi-square test, Pearson's correlation, and logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Mean PWV was significantly higher in individuals with risk factors within both control and patient groups.
- PWV showed significant correlations with numerous cardiovascular risk markers, including age, blood pressure, and lipid profiles.
- Logistic regression identified PWV as a significant and independent predictor of CAD.
Conclusions:
- Elevated PWV in high-risk groups indicates a cumulative effect of risk factors on arterial stiffness.
- PWV serves as a valuable indicator of vascular health and overall cardiovascular risk.
- PWV can be effectively utilized for risk stratification in diverse patient populations, including asymptomatic individuals and those with established CAD.
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