Utility of estimated pulse wave velocity for assessing vascular stiffness: comparison of methods

Aim. Pulse wave velocity independently predicts cardiovascular risk. Easy to use single cuff oscillometric methods are utilized in clinical practice to estimate pulse wave velocity. We applied the approach in master athletes to assess possible beneficial effects of lifelong exercise on vascular health. Furthermore, we compared single cuff measurements with a two-cuff method in another cohort. Methods. We obtained single cuff upper arm oscillometric measurements thrice in 129 master athletes aged 35 to 86 years and estimated pulse wave velocity using the ArcSolver algorithm. We applied the same method in 24 healthy persons aged 24 to 55 years participating in a head down tilt bedrest study. In the latter group, we also obtained direct pulse wave velocity measurements using a thigh cuff.Results. Estimated pulse velocity very highly correlated with age (R2 = 0.90) in master athletes. Estimated pulse wave velocity values were located on the same regression line like values obtained in participants of the head down tilt bed rest study. The modest correlation between estimated and measured PWV (r² 0.40; p<0.05) was attenuated after adjusting for age; the mean difference between pulse wave velocity measurements was 1 m/s.Conclusion. Estimated pulse wave velocity mainly reflects the entered age rather than true vascular properties and, therefore, failed detecting beneficial effects of life long exercise.Funding. The AGBRESA-Study was funded by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the European Space Agency (ESA, contract number 4000113871/15/NL/PG) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA, contract number 80JSC018P0078). Fabian Hoffmann received funding by the DLR and the German Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology, BMWi (50WB1816). SM, JT and JJ were supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, BMK (SPACE4ALL Project, FFG No. 866761).

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Pulse Wave Velocity Measurements Are Reproducible in Multiple Trained Observers: A Short Report

Nephron Clinical Practice ◽

10.1159/000314664 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 116 (1) ◽

pp. c60-c64 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

M.K. Sigrist ◽

G. Chiarelli ◽

A. Levin ◽

A. Romann ◽

C. Weber

Keyword(s):

Pulse Wave Velocity ◽

Wave Velocity ◽

Pulse Wave ◽

Short Report ◽

Velocity Measurements ◽

Trained Observers

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MR Measurement of Pulse Wave Velocity in the Spinal Canal

ASME 2008 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Parts A and B ◽

10.1115/sbc2008-193082 ◽

2008 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bryn A. Martin ◽

Francis Loth ◽

Wojciech Kalata ◽

John N. Oshinski

Keyword(s):

Pulse Wave Velocity ◽

Wave Velocity ◽

Velocity Gradient ◽

Cardiac Cycle ◽

Pulse Wave ◽

Sagittal Plane ◽

Maximum Velocity ◽

Time Shift ◽

Time Interval ◽

Velocity Measurements

Non-invasive measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) system is of interest as a potential indicator of subarachnoid space pressure and compliance, both of which play a role in the development of craniospinal diseases. However, measurement of PWV has eluded researchers primarily due to either a lack of access to CSF velocity measurements or to poor temporal resolution. Here, we present PWV measurements using a novel MR technique that acquires unsteady velocity measurements during the cardiac cycle with a time interval <10 ms. Axial CSF velocity measurements were obtained in the sagittal plane of the cervical spinal region on three patients without cranio-spinal disorders. PWV was estimated by using the time shift identified by the maximum temporal velocity gradient during the cardiac cycle. Based on the maximum velocity gradient, the mean PWV in the three cases was calculated to be 4.6 m/s (stdev 1.7 m/s, p<0.005) during systolic acceleration. The measurements of PWV agree with previously published values.

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