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The impact of heart rate on pulse wave velocity: an in-silico evaluation

Vasiliki Bikia1, Nikolaos Stergiopulos1, Georgios Rovas1

  • 1Laboratory of Hemodynamics and Cardiovascular Technology, Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Journal of Hypertension
|August 3, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Heart rate (HR) can influence carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) measurements, especially when blood pressure (BP) varies. While small HR changes have minimal impact, significant HR variations can clinically affect cf-PWV.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Conflicting evidence exists on how heart rate (HR) affects arterial stiffness and its marker, carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV).
  • Blood pressure (BP) is a key determinant of arterial stiffness, complicating HR's influence on cf-PWV.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of HR on cf-PWV measurements under controlled hemodynamic conditions.
  • To assess the role of blood pressure (BP) variations in the HR-cf-PWV relationship.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a validated in-silico model with 59 simulated cases.
  • Measured cf-PWV at varying HRs (60-100 bpm) with BP either free to change or with diastolic BP (DBP) fixed.
  • Quantified the effect of arterial compliance (C) on HR-induced cf-PWV changes.

Main Results:

  • A significant HR effect on cf-PWV was observed when BP varied freely (0.66 m/s per 10 bpm).
  • This effect was reduced when aortic DBP was fixed (0.21 m/s per 10 bpm).
  • The HR impact on BP-corrected cf-PWV was more pronounced with lower arterial compliance.

Conclusions:

  • Small HR variations have a minor effect on cf-PWV.
  • Clinically significant impacts on cf-PWV should be considered when HR changes are substantial.
Abstract

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