Prognostic value of pulse wave velocity for cardiovascular disease risk stratification in diabetic patients: A...

Arterial stiffness, a significant cardiovascular risk marker, is particularly important in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Pulse wave velocity (PWV), a non-invasive measure of arterial stiffness, has emerged as an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, its precise prognostic value in DM patients for cardiovascular risk stratification remains unclear. To address this, a systematic review was conducted.

A thorough search of Ovid and Scopus databases was performed for cohort studies on PWV measurements for cardiovascular risk stratification in DM patients. Nine studies were included, examining the relationship between PWV and cardiovascular events or composite endpoints in DM patients asymptomatic of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

The review revealed that optimal PWV cutoffs to predict composite cardiovascular events ranged from 10 to 12.16 m/s (aortic PWV) and 14 to 16.72 m/s (brachial-ankle PWV). In addition, meta-analysis yielded a HR of 1.15 (95 % CI 1.07-1.24, p < 0.001, I² = 70 %) for aortic PWV in predicting cardiovascular events.

The assessment of arterial stiffness via PWV shows promise as an early diagnostic marker for CVD in DM patients, aiding in improved disease management. This underscores the potential of PWV in enhancing cardiovascular risk assessment and guiding clinical decisions in this high-risk population, without invasive procedures or radiation exposure.