title: Normal vascular aging: differential effects on wave reflection and aortic pulse wave velocity: the Anglo-Cardiff Collaborative Trial (ACCT).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the current investigation was to test the hypothesis that age-related changes in augmentation index (AIx) are more prominent in younger individuals (<50 years), whereas changes in aortic stiffness per se are more marked in older individuals (>50 years).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Aging exerts a number of deleterious changes in the cardiovascular system, and, in particular, on the large arteries. Previous studies have suggested that AIx and pulse wave velocity (PWV) increase linearly with age, yet epidemiological data concerning pulse pressure suggest that large artery stiffening predominantly occurs later in life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral and central blood pressure, augmentation pressure (AP), and AIx were determined in 4,001 healthy, normotensive individuals, aged 18 to 90 years. Aortic and brachial PWV were also determined in a subset of 998 subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peripheral and central pulse pressure, AP, AIx, and aortic and brachial PWV all increased significantly with age; however, the age-related changes in AIx and aortic PWV were non-linear, with AIx increasing more in younger individuals, whereas the changes in PWV were more prominent in older individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that AIx might be a more sensitive marker of arterial stiffening and risk in younger individuals but aortic PWV is likely to be a better measure in older individuals.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacology Unit, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom. cmm41@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Carmel M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: McEniery
authors.lastname: Yasmin
authors.forename: Ian R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qasem
authors.forename: Ian B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cockcroft
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011674:Pulse