Objective: Arterial stiffness indices measured by pulse wave velocity and pulse wave analysis have been widely studied in different populations. Only a few small studies have been reported regarding these two measurement methods. Therefore, the aim of our study was to compare the arterial stiffness indices measured by pulse wave velocity and pulse wave analysis in a randomly selected Chinese population.
Methods: A total of 4285 subjects were recruited from Gaoyou County, Jiangsu Province, China. There were 2017 (47.1%) participants with hypertension. Pulse wave velocity was assessed by using a VP-1000 Automatic Arteriosclerosis Measurement System. Large artery elasticity and small artery elasticity were measured by pulse wave analysis with an HDI/PulseWave CR-2000 Research CardioVascular Profiling System using the modified Windkessel model.
Results: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, large artery elasticity and small artery elasticity were all significantly associated with the Framingham risk score (r = 0.588, -0.387, -0.448; p < .001). Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity was correlated with both large artery elasticity (r = -0.486, p < .001) and small artery elasticity (r = -0.455, p < .001). In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity [0.834, 95% confidence interval (0.821-0.845)] had a significantly larger area under the curve than both large artery elasticity [0.701, (0.684-0.715)] and small artery elasticity [0.696, (0.678-0.709)].
Conclusion: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity is significantly correlated with both large artery elasticity and small artery elasticity. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity measurement has a better predictive value for hypertension than the large artery elasticity and small artery elasticity measurements. What is new? We investigated the associations between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, large artery elasticity and small artery elasticity and compared the values of these indices for predicting hypertension for the first time in a randomly selected large population. What is relevant? Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity was closely associated with large artery elasticity and small artery elasticity. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity measurement was a sensitive test for predicting hypertension in the study population when compared to large artery elasticity and small artery elasticity readings.
Summary: The present study confirms that brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity is significantly correlated with small and large arterial compliance and is a superior method of diagnosing hypertension compared to large artery elasticity and small artery elasticity.
Keywords: arterial stiffness; hypertension; pulse wave analysis; pulse wave velocity.