title: Comparison of arterial compliance indices derived via beat-to-beat blood pressure waveforms: aging and ethnicity.
abstract: Reduced arterial compliance has been implicated as a risk factor for future cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients. Recently, several non-invasive techniques have been used to access arterial compliance. However, comparisons of these techniques with older individuals and African-Americans have not been done. In the present study, beat-to-beat blood pressure was examined in 75 males and females (n = 24 old Caucasian; n = 24 young Caucasian; n = 27 African-Americans) who were part of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). Resting beat-to-beat blood pressure (5 minutes) was assessed using the PORTAPRES Ambulatory Blood Pressure Device. Results indicated that the three-element windkessel and the stroke volume-pulse pressure ratio measures of arterial compliance provide comparable estimates. Specifically, arterial compliance is reduced in the oldest individuals in our sample with young and African-Americans showing higher compliance. These results indicate that the simpler stroke volume-pulse pressure ratio provides reliable estimates of arterial compliance in both older adults and African-Americans. This technique is an excellent means to assess arterial compliance and is a useful measure to determine risk for adverse cardiovascular events.
authors.affiliation: National Institute on Aging, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sollers
authors.forename: Marcellus M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Merritt
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Silver
authors.forename: Tammy N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Sadle
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.forename: Julian F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Thayer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004548:Elasticity; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D044469:Racial Groups; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D018924:Vascular Capacitance / Q000502:physiology; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D044465:White People