Application of brachial ankle pulse wave velocity in cardiovascular risk assessment

  AIM  To investigate the correlation between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and cardiovascular risk factors and its value in cardiovascular risk assessment.

  METHODS  Three hundred and nine cases of patients with risk factors of cardiovascular disease were enrolled in the study. All the patients had physical examination and laboratorial checks. Their clinical data were collected and Framingham risk score (FRS) were calculated. The difference of cardiovascular risk factors between the high baPWV group (> 1750 cm/s) and the low baPWV group (< 1750 cm/s) was compared and the correlation between baPWV and cardiovascular risk factors and FRS was analyzed.

  RESULTS  The two groups were statistically different in age, triglyceride, blood sugar, uric acid, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, pulse pressure, hypertension history, diabetes history and family history of cardiovascular disease (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the main risk factors for baPWV were age (P < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.01), hypertension history (P < 0.01) and family history of cardiovascular disease (P < 0.05). Moreover, with the accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors, the level of baPWV increased gradually (P < 0.01). With the increase of FRS level, baPWV level showed an upward trend (P < 0.01).

  CONCLUSION  The increase of baPWV may indicate a cumulative increase in cardiovascular risk factors and/or a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Age, systolic blood pressure, history of hypertension and family history of cardiovascular disease are the major risk factors for baPWV.