Reference Values of Carotid Ultrafast Pulse-Wave Velocity: A Prospective, Multicenter, Population-Based Study

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Vascular Physiology

Background:

• Ultrafast ultrasound imaging offers reproducible carotid stiffness assessment via carotid pulse-wave velocity (PWV).
• Lack of established reference values has limited its clinical adoption.
• This study aimed to create reference values and identify determinants of carotid PWV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish reference values for carotid PWV using ultrafast ultrasound imaging.
• To identify the primary determinants of carotid PWV in a large population cohort.
• To provide data for the clinical application of ultrafast ultrasound in assessing arterial stiffness.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, multicenter, population-based cohort study involving 1,544 healthy Han Chinese volunteers.
• Carotid PWV measured using ultrafast ultrasound imaging at the beginning of systole (BS) and end-systole (ES).
• Analysis of age, blood pressure (BP), and body mass index (BMI) as potential determinants.

Main Results:

• Carotid PWV was higher in the left than the right artery.
• PWV at BS was higher in men; no sex difference at ES.
• Age, BP, and BMI were independent predictors, with PWV increasing with these factors.

Conclusions:

• First-time establishment of age- and sex-specific reference values for carotid PWV via ultrafast ultrasound.
• Age, BP, and BMI are dominant determinants of carotid PWV.
• These findings are critical for clinical assessment of arterial stiffness.