Distribution of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity values and optimal cut-off in distinguishing subjects with clinical condition in Chinese population.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to examine the distribution and gender- and age-specific reference ranges of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in Chinese population.


METHODS
A total of 21094 subjects were recruited into a cross-sectional study from June 2007 to June 2008 in China. Participants were divided into three clinical subgroups: 1) subgroup 1: subjects with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases; 2) subgroup 2: subjects with atherosclerotic risk factors; and 3) subgroup 3: "healthy subjects" without any atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerotic risk factors.


RESULTS
The average baPWV among subgroups one through 3 was 1724.3±429.1, 1603.5±358.8, and 1389.9±288.4 cm/s, respectively. BaPWV did not fit as a normal distribution in both genders. There was no significant difference between male and female for baPWV in subgroup 1 (P>0.05). While baPWV was higher in females than males in subgroup 2, it was lower in females than in males in subgroup 3 (all P<0.05). Notably, BaPWV significantly increased with age in both genders (all P for trend<0.05). The receiver operator characteristic curve demonstrated that a baPWV of 1450 cm/s was useful to discriminate either cardiovascular diseases or atherosclerotic risk factors (sensitivity 62.1%, specificity 69.5%), a baPWV of 1551 cm/s was useful to discriminate cardiovascular diseases (sensitivity 62%, specificity 61%), and a baPWV of 1566 cm/s was useful to discriminate either cardiovascular diseases or chronic kidney disease (sensitivity 60%, specificity 63%).


CONCLUSIONS
The reference ranges and cut-off values of baPWV can be used to screen atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in clinical practices.
Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Center Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
L
L
Wu
Y
Y
Wang
L
L
Zheng
J
J
Li
D
D
Hu
Y
Y
Xu
B
B
Hasimu
H
H
Yuan
J
J
Yang
Y
Y
Sun
Y
Y
Ma
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D044466:Asian People; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values