title: Large artery stiffness and pulse wave reflection: results of a population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the determination of large artery stiffness and pulse wave reflection in a population sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 1% random population sample aged 25-65 years was selected in nine districts of the Czech Republic for a survey off cardiovascular risk factors (Czech post-MONICA). Of 891 individual screened in the Pilsen centre in the year 2000, arterial properties were studied in 291 (143 males and 148 females) using the Sphygmocor device. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the aorta and in the lowe limbs was measured to assess large artery stiffness. Wave reflection was assessed from radial pulse wave analysis; the main estimated parameter was peripheral augmentation index (PAI) defined as P2/P1 = ratio of pulse pressures measures at the peaks of secondary and primary waves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aortic PWV increased with age (p < 0.001) and was similar in both sexes. Lower extremity PWV increased with age in women, but not in mean, and its mean value was higher in men (p < 0.001). PAI was higher in females in all age groups (p < 0.001) and increased steeply with age in both sexes (p < 0.001). PAI was increased in current smokers (p < 0.001 in both sexes) and in male smokers, the reflected wave returned earlier than in male non-smokers (p < 0.05). Correlation coefficient of PAI with aortic PWV was 0.22 (p < 0.01), and with central augmentation index (CAI), derived from PAI by mathematical transformation, was 0.94 (p < 0.001). Multiple regression analyses, where age, sex, systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol level, smoking, glucose level and body mass index were included as independent variables, were performed. PAI was better predicted than aortic or lower extremity PWV is these models (41%, 14% and 10% of variance explained, respectively). Age, female sex, smoking, SBP and total cholesterol predicted PAI level whereas age, SBP and glucose level were the main determinants pf aortic PWV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of the studied arterial parameters, PAI showed the closest association with cardiovascular risk factors. The correlation between PAI and aortic PWV was loose, and both parameters had practically different determinants. PAI, which is obtained by direct measurement above radial artery, was practically identical with the mathematically derived CAI in the studied population sample, and therefore, it is a suitable parameter for studying the phenomenon of wave reflection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital, Charles University Medical School, E. Benese 13, 305 99 Pilsen, Czech Republic. filipovsky@fnplzen.cz
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Filipovský
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tichá
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cífková
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lánská
authors.forename: Vlasta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stastná
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roucka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D003935:Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D011674:Pulse; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014655:Vascular Resistance