title: Aortic pulse wave velocity as a marker of cardiovascular disease in subjects over 70 years old.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a significant and independent predictor of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in hypertensive subjects and in patients with end-stage renal disease, but its contribution to cardiovascular risk in subjects between 70 and 100 years old has never been tested.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 124 subjects (mean age: 87 +/- 7 years) was studied in two geriatric departments in a Paris suburb. Together with sphygmomanometric blood pressure measurements, aortic PWV was measured using a validated automatic device.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood pressure, heart rate and body mass index, but not age, explained 48% of the PWV variability in this cohort. Furthermore, PWV was the major factor predicting the presence of CVD. The adjusted odds ratio was 17.44 (95% confidence intervals: 2.52-120.55). Antihypertensive drug therapy and low plasma albumin level had only an additive role. Blood pressure, particularly pulse pressure, had no predictive value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In 70-100-year-old subjects, aortic PWV is a strong independent marker of CVD, a finding that remains to be to confirmed by long-term longitudinal studies.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Department, Charles-Foix Hospital, Ivry-sur-Seine, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meaume
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rudnichi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bussy
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sebban
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benetos
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Safar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D011674:Pulse