[Determination of the aortic pulse wave velocity in 545 healthy subjects].
OBJECTIVE
To understand the aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) in mid-aged and elderly populations and to study the correlation between gender and PWV and the tendency of PWV on different age groups.


METHODS
According to the clinical trial guideline, we selected 545 healthy subjects (age, 31-85 years, 395 men and 150 women), and measured carotid-femoral PWV, using Complior.


RESULTS
The average value of PWV in Chinese healthy subjects was 11.62 +/- 2.97 m/s. There was no significant difference in the PWV values between males and females who were older than 40 years, but the values of PWV were lower in females than in males in the 30-39 year-old group. PWV was positively correlated with age. In the present study, the reference values of PWV were established in the different age groups, based on the regression equations between PWV and age.


CONCLUSIONS
Aortic pulse wave velocity seemed to be influenced by age but hardly influenced by gender in healthy subjects, so that the reference value of PWV should be established according to the different age groups. When aorta got stiffer, the value PWV got larger accordingly when age was increasing.
Liu
Xiao-ning
XN
Department of Geriatrics, Qi-Lu Hospital of Shandong Univercity, Jinan 250012, China.
Gao
Hai-qing
HQ
Li
Bao-ying
BY
Zhang
Zhi-mian
ZM
Gao
Xi-mei
XM
Mi
Feng-hua
FH
Liu
Yuan-ping
YP
Wang
Min
M
Yi
Yong-liang
YL
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors