Pulse wave velocity in young adults: study of Rio de Janeiro

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) can be a marker of cardiovascular impairment, but there are few studies in young adults.

To evaluate the association between blood pressure (BP), current anthropometric and metabolic variables and those obtained 13 years earlier, in childhood and adolescence, with PWV.

Sixty individuals were followed longitudinally and split into two groups according to the percentile of blood pressure (BP) obtained 13 years earlier: Group 1 (G1): BP percentile < 50 (n = 25, 11M, 26.4 years old) and Group 2 (G2): BP > 95 percentile (n = 35, 19M, 25.4 years old). The individuals underwent clinical evaluation, laboratory analysis and measurements of PWV through the Complior method.

G1 showed higher mean age; G2 showed greater mean weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), PWV and blood glucose, and lower mean HDL-cholesterol. SBP, MAP and heart rate (HR) obtained during childhood and adolescence significantly correlated with PWV. Current weight, height, waist-hip ratio, SBP, DBP, pulse pressure (PP), MAP and creatinine presented a positive and significant correlation with PWV. A comparison of the average PWV adjusted for SBP, DBP, SBP and DBP, MAP and PP showed no statistically significant difference between groups.

The percentile of BP in childhood/adolescence related to arterial distensibility assessed by PWV 13 years later. Changes in PWV can be identified in young individuals suggesting that early vascular impairment may be present in this age group, also related to blood pressure, anthropometric and metabolic variables.