Aortic pulse wave velocity as a marker of cardiovascular disease in subjects over 70 years old.
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.
Meaume
S
S
Geriatric Department, Charles-Foix Hospital, Ivry-sur-Seine, France.
Rudnichi
A
A
Lynch
A
A
Bussy
C
C
Sebban
C
C
Benetos
A
A
Safar
M E
ME
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