Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 1, 2026
Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity Cf-PWV to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
Published on: May 3, 2018
Correlation between beat-to-beat blood pressure variability and arterial stiffness in healthy adults in the cold
Lin Xu1, Hongqiang Lei1,2, Jian Qiu1
1Department of Cardiology, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Region, PLA, Guangzhou, 510010, China.
Insights
Blood pressure variability significantly impacts arterial stiffness. Beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP) levels and variability during the cold pressor test correlate with pulse wave velocity, a marker of arterial stiffness.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Arterial stiffness is a critical indicator of cardiovascular health.
- Blood pressure variability (BPV) is increasingly recognized as a significant factor in cardiovascular disease progression.
- Understanding the relationship between BPV and arterial stiffness is crucial for early detection and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between beat-to-beat blood pressure variability and arterial stiffness.
- To analyze cardiovascular parameters during the cold pressor test (CPT) in relation to arterial stiffness markers.
- To explore the influence of heart rate variability on arterial stiffness.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 101 young Chinese adults (21-33 years) without a history of hypertension.
- Performed beat-to-beat recordings of blood pressure (BP), heart rate, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, and left ventricular ejection time during CPT.
- Analyzed correlations between BPV indices, heart rate variability, and pulse wave velocity (PWV).
Main Results:
- Mean beat-to-beat BP levels and diastolic BP variability during CPT showed significant correlations with PWV (r=0.22-0.34, P<0.05).
- Beat-to-beat heart rate and heart rate variability indices also correlated with PWV across CPT phases.
- Specific heart rate variability metrics (SDNN, RMSSD) during cold stimulus correlated with PWV (r=0.23-0.24, P<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Beat-to-beat blood pressure levels and variability are strongly associated with arterial stiffness.
- Dynamic cardiovascular responses during CPT, including BPV and HRV, provide insights into arterial stiffness.
- These findings highlight the importance of BPV assessment in evaluating cardiovascular risk.
Abstract:
Blood pressure variability has a great effect on the progression of arterial stiffness, which has increasingly become a hot research topic recently. In this study, beat-to-beat recordings of blood pressure (BP), heart rate, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, and left ventricular ejection time during the cold pressor test (CPT) were analyzed together. We recruited 101 young Chinese subjects (aged 21-33) with no known history of high BP into the study. We found that the mean level of beat-to-beat BP and the average real variability and successive variation of beat-to-beat diastolic BP variability in the CPT showed significant correlations with pulse wave velocity (PWV) (r = 0.22-0.34, P < 0.05). In addition, we also found correlations between beat-to-beat heart rate and heart rate variability indices and PWV in each phase of the CPT. At the same time, the standard deviation of the R-R intervals and square root of the mean squared difference of successive R-R intervals in the cold stimulus phase also showed significant correlations with PWV (r = 0.23-0.24, P < 0.05). In conclusion, the level and variability of beat-to-beat BP have a strong influence on arterial stiffness.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Assessment of blood pressure in brachial artery(two-step method)
01:15Assessment of blood pressure in brachial artery(one-step method)
Prepare for the Procedure:
01:21Sites for measuring blood pressure
The Brachial Artery: Primary Site for Blood Pressure Measurement
01:28Special considerations while measuring blood pressure
Monitoring Both Arms:
Monitoring BP in both arms during the initial assessment is advisable, as the systolic value may differ by five to ten mm Hg between arms. For subsequent BP assessments, use the arm with the higher reading.
01:17Measurement of Blood Pressure
01:10Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Assessing Blood Pressure