Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Relationship between blood pressure parameters and pulse wave velocity in normotensive and hypertensive subjects: invasive study

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 21, pages 141–148 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Blood pressure (BP) is one of the most important contributing factors to pulse wave velocity (PWV), a classic measure of arterial stiffness. Although there have been many non-invasive studies to show the relation between arterial stiffness and BP, the results are controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of BP as an influencing factor on PWV using invasive method. We observed 174 normotensive and untreated hypertensive subjects using coronary angiography. Arterial stiffness was assessed through aorto-femoral PWV by foot-to-foot velocity method using fluid-filled system. And BP was measured by pressure wave at the right common femoral artery. From univariate analysis, age, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, waist, waist-to-hip ratio, total cholesterol-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, systolic BP (SBP), pulse pressure (PP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) showed significant association with PWV. To avoid multiple colinearity among SBP, PP and MAP, we performed multiple regression analysis predicting PWV thrice. Age, DM and each BP were significantly and consistently correlated to PWV. In the first and third modules, compared to age, SBP and MAP were less strong predictors, respectively. However, PP was the stronger predictor than age and DM in the second module. Lastly, we simultaneously forced MAP and PP with other variables in the fourth multivariate analysis. Age, DM and PP remained significantly correlated with PWV, but the significance of MAP was lost. This is the first invasive study to suggest that PP has the strongest correlation with PWV among a variety of BP parameters.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ohmori K, Emura S, Takashima T . Risk factors of atherosclerosis and aortic pulse wave velocity. Angiology 2000; 51: 53–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Farrar DJ, Bond MG, Riley WA, Sawyer JK . Anatomic correlates of aortic pulse wave velocity and carotid artery elasticity during atherosclerosis progression and regression in monkeys. Circulation 1991; 83: 1754–1763.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. O’Neal DN, Dragicevic G, Rowley KG, Ansari MZ, Balazs N, Jenkins A et al. A cross-sectional study of the effects of type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors on structure and function of nonstenotic arteries of the lower limb. Diabetes Care 2003; 26: 199–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. van Popele NM, Grobbee DE, Bots ML, Asmar R, Topouchian J, Reneman RS et al. Association between arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis: the Rotterdam Study. Stroke 2001; 32: 454–460.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Amar J, Ruidavets JB, Chamontin B, Drouet L, Ferrieres J . Arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk factors in a population-based study. J Hypertens 2001; 19: 381–387.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Meaume S, Rudnichi A, Lynch A, Bussy C, Sebban C, Benetos A et al. Aortic pulse wave velocity as a marker of cardiovascular disease in subjects over 70 years old. J Hypertens 2001; 19: 871–877.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Willum-Hansen T, Staessen JA, Torp-Pedersen C, Rasmussen S, Thijs L, Ibsen H et al. Prognostic value of aortic pulse wave velocity as index of arterial stiffness in the general population. Circulation 2006; 113: 664–670.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Boutouyrie P, Tropeano AI, Asmar R, Gautier I, Benetos A, Lacolley P et al. Aortic stiffness is an independent predictor of primary coronary events in hypertensive patients: a longitudinal study. Hypertension 2002; 39: 10–15.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Mattace-Raso FU, van der Cammen TJ, Hofman A, van Popele NM, Bos ML, Schalekamp MA et al. Arterial stiffness and risk of coronary heart disease and stroke: the Rotterdam Study. Circulation 2006; 113: 657–663.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Weber T, Auer J, O’Rourke MF, Kvas E, Lassnig E, Berent R et al. Arterial stiffness, wave reflections, and the risk of coronary artery disease. Circulation 2004; 109: 184–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Lim HE, Park CG, Shin SH, Ahn JC, Seo HS, Oh DJ . Aortic pulse wave velocity as an independent marker of coronary artery disease. Blood Press 2004; 13: 369–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Laurent S, Boutouyrie P, Asmar R, Gautier I, Laloux B, Guize L et al. Aortic stiffness is an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive patients. Hypertension 2001; 37: 1236–1241.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Blacher J, Guerin AP, Pannier B, Marchais SJ, Safar ME, London GM . Impact of aortic stiffness on survival in end-stage renal disease. Circulation 1999; 99: 2434–2439.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Blacher J, Safar ME, Guerin AP, Pannier B, Marchais SJ, London GM . Aortic pulse wave velocity index and mortality in end-stage renal disease. Kidney Int 2003; 63: 1852–1860.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Cruickshank K, Riste L, Anderson SG, Wright JS, Dunn G, Gosling RG . Aortic pulse-wave velocity and its relationship to mortality in diabetes and glucose intolerance: an integrated index of vascular function? Circulation 2002; 106: 2085–2090.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. O’Rourke MF, Staessen JA, Vlachopoulos C, Duprez D, Plante GE . Clinical applications of arterial stiffness; definitions and reference values. Am J Hypertens 2002; 15: 426–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Lemogoum D, Van Bortel L, Van den Abeele W, Ciarka A, Degaute JP, van de Borne P et al. Effect of beta-adrenergic stimulation on pulse wave velocity in black and white subjects. J Hypertens 2004; 22: 2349–2353.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Nurnberger J, Dammer S, Opazo Saez A, Philipp T, Schafers RF . Diastolic blood pressure is an important determinant of augmentation index and pulse wave velocity in young, healthy males. J Hum Hypertens 2003; 17: 153–158.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ngim CA, Abdul Rahman AR, Ibrahim A . Pulse wave velocity as an index of arterial stiffness: a comparison between newly diagnosed (untreated) hypertensive and normotensive middle-aged Malay men and its relationship with fasting insulin. Acta Cardiol 1999; 54: 277–282.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Tanaka H, DeSouza CA, Seals DR . Absence of age-related increase in central arterial stiffness in physically active women. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 1998; 18: 127–132.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Blacher J, Asmar R, Djane S, London GM, Safar ME . Aortic pulse wave velocity as a marker of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients. Hypertension 1999; 33: 1111–1117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Yasmin MB . Similarities and differences between augmentation index and pulse wave velocity in the assessment of arterial stiffness. Q J Med 1999; 92: 595–600.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Sa Cunha R, Pannier B, Benetos A, Siche JP, London GM, Mallion JM et al. Association between high heart rate and high arterial rigidity in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. J Hypertens 1997; 15: 1423–1430.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Stompor T, Rajzer M, Sulowicz W, Dembinska-Kiec A, Janda K, Kawecka-Jaszcz K et al. An association between aortic pulse wave velocity, blood pressure and chronic inflammation in ESRD patients on peritoneal dialysis. Int J Artif Organs 2003; 26: 188–195.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Asmar R . Arterial Stiffness and Pulse Wave Velocity Clinical Applications. Elsevier: Paris, 1999, pp 67, 101–102.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Blacher J, Protogerou AD, Safar ME . Large artery stiffness and antihypertensive agents. Curr Pharm Des 2005; 11: 3317–3326.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Asmar RG, Brunel PC, Pannier BM, Lacolley PJ, Safar ME . Arterial distensibility and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in essential hypertension. Am J Cardiol 1988; 61: 1066–1070.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Vardan S, Mookherjee S, Warner R, Smulyan H . Systolic hypertension. Direct and indirect BP measurements. Arch Intern Med 1983; 143: 935–938.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. de Simone G, Roman MJ, Koren MJ, Mensah GA, Ganau A, Devereux RB . Stroke volume/pulse pressure ratio and cardiovascular risk in arterial hypertension. Hypertension 1999; 33: 800–805.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Benetos A, Safar M, Rudnichi A, Smulyan H, Richard JL, Ducimetieere P et al. Pulse pressure: a predictor of long-term cardiovascular mortality in a French male population. Hypertension 1997; 30: 1410–1415.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Verdecchia P, Schillaci G, Borgioni C, Ciucci A, Pede S, Porcellati C . Ambulatory pulse pressure: a potent predictor of total cardiovascular risk in hypertension. Hypertension 1998; 32: 983–988.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Franklin SS, Gustin WT, Wong ND, Larson MG, Weber MA, Kannel WB et al. Hemodynamic patterns of age-related changes in blood pressure. The Framingham heart study. Circulation 1997; 96: 308–315.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Khattar RS, Swales JD, Dore C, Senior R, Lahiri A . Effect of aging on the prognostic significance of ambulatory systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure in essential hypertension. Circulation 2001; 104: 783–789.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Franklin SS, Larson MG, Khan SA, Wong ND, Leip EP, Kannel WB et al. Does the relation of blood pressure to coronary heart disease risk change with aging? The Framingham heart study. Circulation 2001; 103: 1245–1249.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Nichols WW . Clinical measurement of arterial stiffness obtained from noninvasive pressure waveforms. Am J Hypertens 2005; 18: 3S–10S.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Mahmud A, Feely J . Effect of smoking on arterial stiffness and pulse pressure amplification. Hypertension 2003; 41: 183–187.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Rehill N, Beck CR, Yeo KR, Yeo WW . The effect of chronic tobacco smoking on arterial stiffness. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2006; 61: 767–773.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Kim JW, Park CG, Hong SJ, Park SM, Rha SW, Seo HS et al. Acute and chronic effects of cigarette smoking on arterial stiffness. Blood Press 2005; 14: 80–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Millasseau SC, Stewart AD, Patel SJ, Redwood SR, Chowienczyk PJ . Evaluation of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity: influence of timing algorithm and heart rate. Hypertension 2005; 45: 222–226.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Wilkinson IB, Mohammad NH, Tyrrell S, Hall IR, Webb DJ, Paul VE et al. Heart rate dependency of pulse pressure amplification and arterial stiffness. Am J Hypertens 2002; 15: 24–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Nichols WW, Conti CR, Walker WE, Milnor WR . Input impedance of the systemic circulation in man. Circ Res 1977; 40: 451–458.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Noble MI, Gabe IT, Trenchard D, Guz A . Blood pressure and flow in the ascending aorta of conscious dogs. Cardiovasc Res 1967; 1: 9–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Stefanadis C, Dernellis J, Vavuranakis M, Tsiamis E, Vlachopoulos C, Toutouzas K et al. Effects of ventricular pacing-induced tachycardia on aortic mechanics in man. Cardiovasc Res 1998; 39: 506–514.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by a grant from the Seoul R LBD program, Republic of Korea (10528).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Guro-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    E J Kim, C G Park, J S Park, S Y Suh, C U Choi, J W Kim, H E Lim, S W Rha, H S Seo & D J Oh

  2. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Youngdeungpo-dong, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    S H Kim

Authors
  1. E J Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C G Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J S Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S Y Suh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. C U Choi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. J W Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. S H Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. H E Lim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. S W Rha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. H S Seo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. D J Oh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C G Park.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kim, E., Park, C., Park, J. et al. Relationship between blood pressure parameters and pulse wave velocity in normotensive and hypertensive subjects: invasive study. J Hum Hypertens 21, 141–148 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002120

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002120

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links