Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 28, 2026
Author Spotlight: Assessing the Cardiovascular Profile of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome
Published on: September 27, 2024
Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity is negatively correlated with aortic diameter
Marc A Bailey1, Jennifer M Davies2, Kathryn J Griffin1
11] The Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre, Leeds Institute of Genetics, Health & Therapeutics, Division of Cardiovascular & Diabetes Research, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK [2] The Leeds Vascular Institute, The General Infirmary at Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Insights
Arterial stiffness, measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV), is linked to cardiovascular risk. In abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients, larger aortic diameter correlated with lower PWV, suggesting PWV may be unreliable for assessing arterial stiffness in AAA.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Vascular Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Cardiovascular events are a major concern for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
- Arterial stiffness, quantified by pulse wave velocity (PWV), is a recognized predictor of cardiovascular risk.
- The relationship between aortic diameter and arterial stiffness in AAA patients requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between aortic diameter and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) in patients with and without AAA.
- To determine if aortic diameter influences the measurement of arterial stiffness in AAA.
- To assess the reliability of cfPWV measurements using the Vicorder device in this population.
Main Methods:
- Consecutive patients with and without AAA underwent health questionnaires, aortic ultrasound, and carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV) measurements using a Vicorder.
- Linear regression models identified predictors of cfPWV.
- Reproducibility was assessed in 30 patients using Bland and Altman analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient.
Main Results:
- cfPWV measurements demonstrated good repeatability between observers.
- cfPWV was positively correlated with age and systolic blood pressure, and negatively correlated with aortic diameter.
- No significant difference in cfPWV was found between AAA patients and controls, but patients with large AAA (>5 cm) had reduced cfPWV compared to those with small AAA or normal aortas.
Conclusions:
- Carotid-femoral PWV measurements are repeatable using the Vicorder.
- Arterial stiffness, as assessed by cfPWV, is negatively associated with infra-renal aortic diameter and appears reduced in large AAA.
- The confounding effect of aortic size suggests cfPWV may be an invalid measure of arterial stiffness in AAA patients.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular events pose significant morbidity and mortality burden to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients. Arterial stiffness as measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. We investigated the relationship between aortic diameter and PWV. Consecutive patients with AAA were invited to participate. Patients completed a health questionnaire, received aortic ultrasound and carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV) recordings with a Vicorder. Thirty patients were used for reproducibility assessment. A linear regression model was used to identify significant predictors of cfPWV. Observer variation was assessed using Bland and Altman analysis and the intraclass correlation coefficient. Three hundred and nine patients were included-148 with AAA and 161 controls. The mean difference for repeated cfPWV between observers was 0.11 ms(-1). cfPWV was positively correlated with age (r=0.24, P<0.001) and systolic blood pressure (r=0.29, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with aortic diameter (r=-0.15, P=0.008). There was no difference in cfPWV between AAA and control groups (9.75±2.3 ms(-1) vs. 9.55±2.3 ms(-1), P=0.43). Aortic diameter (P=0.003) and systolic blood pressure (P<0.001) were significant predictors of cfPWV independent of age, aspirin usage and a history of myocardial infarction. Patients with large AAA (>5 cm) had decreased cfPWV compared with patients with small AAA (P=0.02) or normal diameter aorta (P=0.02). Vicorder measurements of cfPWV are repeatable. cfPWV is negatively associated with infra-renal aortic diameter and reduced in large AAA. cfPWV is likely invalid for accurate arterial stiffness assessment in patients with AAA owing to the apparent confounding effect of aortic size.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Pulse
The pulse serves as a clinical...
01:21Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation
01:17Pulse amplitude and quality
A weak or absent pulse may indicate reduced cardiac output or poor left ventricular contraction, which can be signs of cardiovascular dysfunction or...
01:25Assessment of apical radial pulse
The A-R pulse assessment involves simultaneous evaluation of the apical and radial pulses. When the apical and radial pulse rates vary, this assessment helps identify a pulse deficit.
Pre-Procedural Preparation
01:22Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
01:19Assessing Blood pressure using a doppler ultrasound
Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Doppler Ultrasound Blood Pressure Assessment:
Preparation of Equipment: