Effect of Heart Rate on Arterial Pressure Wave Propagation: Analysis Using Cardiovascular Hardware Simulator

Understanding the effects of heart rate (HR) on arterial pressure wave propagation is crucial for cardiovascular assessment, as HR changes occur frequently in clinical settings. This study investigates how HR variations affect pressure wave characteristics using a hardware cardiovascular simulator that enables precise control of physiological parameters. Using an artificial aorta with properties similar to human vessels, we measured pressure waves at six locations along the arterial pathway while varying HR from 60 to 100 bpm. The results showed that increased HR led to: 1) more pronounced changes in waveform morphology during propagation, particularly near the bifurcation, and 2) greater pulse pressure amplification along the arterial pathway. These findings were validated through comparison with numerical simulations, suggesting that HR influences both the magnitude and morphology of pressure waves during propagation.Clinical relevance- When interpreting arterial pressure measurements, particularly those taken at locations far from the heart, changes in heart rate should be considered as they can substantially affect both the magnitude and shape of pressure waveforms.