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Updated: Oct 5, 2025
Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
Published on: February 7, 2014
Association between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in different
Da Sen Sang1, Qi Zhang2, Da Song2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
Insights
The risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) associated with high arterial stiffness, measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), decreases with advancing age. This finding highlights age-related differences in CVD risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Biology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Arterial stiffness, assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), is a predictor of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CVD).
- Age is a significant factor influencing vascular health and disease risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between baPWV and CVD incidence across different age groups.
- To determine if the impact of arterial stiffness on CVD risk varies by age.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 39,417 individuals without prior CVD or atrial fibrillation was analyzed.
- Participants were stratified into age groups (e.g., <50, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, ≥80 years).
- Cox proportional hazards regression models assessed CVD risk associated with baPWV quartiles within each age group.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant association between higher baPWV and increased CVD incidence was observed in younger age groups (<50, 50-59, 60-69 years).
- The predictive value of baPWV for CVD diminished in older age groups (70-79 and ≥80 years).
- Hazard ratios for CVD in the highest baPWV quartile (Q3) compared to the lowest (Q1) were significant in younger groups but not in the oldest.
Conclusions:
- The risk of CVD associated with increased arterial stiffness decreases with advancing age.
- Arterial stiffness is a significant CVD risk factor, particularly in younger and middle-aged populations.
Background:
To investigate the association between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in different age groups.
Methods:
A total of 39 417 people, receiving Kailuan physical examination, completing baPWV examination from 2010 to 2017, with no history of CVD and atrial fibrillation, were selected as the observation objects. The population was categorized into one age group per 10 years, namely the <50, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and ≥80-year-old groups, and the total population, and each group was further assigned into three classes according to the triple quartiles of baPWV. Kaplan-Meier method helped to calculate the cumulative incidence of CVD in different age groups. The effect of baPWV on CVD in different age groups was evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards regression model.
Results:
Kaplan-Meier survival curve indicated statistical significance (p < .05) in the cumulative incidence of CVD among the whole population, <50, 50-59, and 60-69-year-old groups, while the cumulative incidence of end-point events among the baPWV subgroups of 70-79 and ≥80-year-old groups exhibited no statistical significance (p > .05). Compared with baPWV in the Q1 group, hazard ratio value (95% confidence interval [CI]) of CVD in the Q3 group was 4.14 (95% CI: 2.98-5.75) in the total population, 2.98 (95% CI: 1.08-8.21) in <50-year-old population, 4.49 (95% CI: 2.89-7.00) in 50-59-year-old population, 2.78 (95% CI: 1.76-4.39) in 60-69-year-old population, 1.39 (95% CI: 0.86-2.24) in 70-79-year-old population, and 1.15 (95% CI: 0.55-2.41) in ≥80-year-old population.
Conclusion:
CVD risk attributed to increased arterial stiffness reduces with age.
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