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Updated: May 24, 2026
06:08
Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
Published on: February 7, 2014
Does increased blood pressure rather than aging influence retinal pulse wave velocity?
Konstantin E Kotliar1, Ines M Lanzl, Henner Hanssen
1Department of Nephrology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany. konstantin.kotliar@tum.de
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|March 20, 2012
Summary
Retinal pulse wave velocity (rPWV), a marker of arterial stiffness, increases with age and hypertension. Healthy aging does not elevate rPWV, suggesting blood pressure, not age itself, drives stiffness.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Retinal pulse wave velocity (rPWV) measures arterial stiffness.
- Previous studies indicate elevated rPWV in older adults compared to younger individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- Confirm previous findings on rPWV in aging.
- Investigate if elevated rPWV relates to age-associated hypertension or aging itself.
Main Methods:
- Compared rPWV in young healthy, senior healthy, and young hypertensive groups.
- Utilized Dynamic Vessel Analyzer for time-dependent vessel diameter changes.
- Calculated rPWV using mathematical signal analysis.
Main Results:
- rPWV was significantly higher in hypertensive and senior healthy groups compared to young healthy individuals.
- rPWV correlated with age and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in a cohort excluding validated healthy seniors.
- Association with MAP persisted when validated healthy seniors were included.
Conclusions:
- Elevated rPWV is linked to aging with cardiovascular risk factors and mild hypertension.
- rPWV increases similarly in young hypertensives and older healthy individuals.
- Healthy aging is not associated with increased rPWV.
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