Carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity: Impact of different arterial path length measurements
Received 17 September 2009; received in revised form 29 October 2009; accepted 16 November 2009. published online 07 December 2009.
Abstract
Background
Carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) is the most established index of arterial stiffness. Yet there is no consensus on the methodology in regard to the arterial path length measurements conducted on the body surface. Currently, it is not known to what extent the differences in the arterial path length measurements affect absolute PWV values.
Methods
Two hundred fifty apparently healthy adults (127 men and 123 women, 19–79 years) were studied. Carotid–femoral PWV was calculated using (1) the straight distance between carotid and femoral sites (PWVcar–fem), (2) the straight distance between suprasternal notch and femoral site minus carotid arterial length (PWV(ssn–fem)−(ssn–car)), (3) the straight distance between carotid and femoral sites minus carotid arterial length (PWV(car–fem)−(ssn–car)), and (4) the combined distance from suprasternal notch to the umbilicus and from the umbilicus to femoral site minus carotid arterial length (PWV(ssn–umb–fem)−(ssn–car)).
Results
All the calculated PWV were significantly correlated with each other (r=0.966–0.995). PWVs accounting for carotid arterial length were 16–31% lower than PWVcar–fem. PWVcar–fem value of 12m/s corresponded to 8.3m/s for PWV(ssn–fem)−(ssn–car), 10.0m/s for PWV(car–fem)−(ssn–car), and 8.9m/s for PWV(ssn–umb–fem)−(ssn–car).
Conclusion
Different body surface measurements used to estimate arterial path length would produce substantial variations in absolute PWV values.
aCardiovascular Aging Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
bInstitute for Human Science and Biomedical Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 6, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan
Corresponding author. Institute for Human Science and Biomedical Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 6, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan. Tel.: +81 29 861 7138; fax: +81 29 861 6660.
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