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Updated: Jun 12, 2025
Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
Published on: February 7, 2014
Association between pulse wave velocity and white matter hyperintensities among older adults: A meta-analysis of
Celia Álvarez-Bueno1, María Medrano2, Maribel Lucerón-Lucas-Torres3
1Universidad de Castilla - La Mancha, Health and Social Research Center, Cuenca, Spain; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca 7500912, Chile.
Background:
Higher levels of pulse wave velocity (PWV) have been related with the presence of small vessel disease that could damage the brain, in which white matter hyperintensities (WMH) could be presented as consequence. This meta-analysis aims to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between PWV and the presence of WMH among older adults.
Methods:
We searched PubMed, Scopus, and WOS until June 2024. Pooled Odds Ratio (p-OR) were estimated for the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between PWV and WMH. In addition, we explored whether this associations could be modified by type of PWV measurement and study and sample characteristics.
Results:
The p-OR between PWV and WMH was 1.16 (95 % CI, 1.10-1.22) for the cross-sectional and 1.07 (95 %, 1.00-1.15) for the longitudinal association. Similar figures were found by type of PWV measurement and no one of the explored characteristics modified this associations.
Conclusions:
This meta-analysis revealed that the presence in and the long-term development of WMHs among older adults are more likely among those with elevated PWV.
