title: Oscillometry and applanation tonometry measurements in older individuals with elevated levels of arterial stiffness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Indices of arterial stiffness and aortic pressure are usually assessed by applanation tonometry. The more recently introduced oscillometric device is simpler to use. Several studies have investigated the agreement between these two devices, but not in populations with elevated levels of arterial stiffness. Therefore, we evaluated the agreement in an elderly population with high risk of arterial stiffness.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included a subgroup of the B-PROOF study (n=344, mean age 73 years, 60% men), whose aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), aortic augmentation index (AIx), aortic pulse pressure (PP), and aortic systolic blood pressure (SBP) were assessed both with applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor) and with oscillometry (Arteriograph). We investigated agreement between the two devices using Pearson correlations and Bland-Altman analysis. We carried out a stratified analysis in participants with more pronounced arterial stiffness (SphygmoCor aPWV>12 m/s).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The oscillometric method produced higher values of AIx, aortic PP, and aortic SBP (P<0.01) than applanation tonometry. aPWV values were lower (P<0.01) and were not correlated (r=-0.06, P=0.92), whereas AIx measurements (r=0.35 P<0.01), aortic PP (r=0.57 P<0.01), and aortic SBP (r=0.68 P<0.01) measurements were correlated. Bland-Altman analysis showed insufficient agreement between the two devices, especially in those with elevated levels of arterial stiffness (aPWV>12 m/s).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Particularly in the elderly with elevated levels of arterial stiffness, measurements of aPWV obtained with oscillometry and applanation tonometry show poor agreement. Also, AIx, aortic SBP, and aortic PP show clearly less than optimal agreement.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam bDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center cDepartment of Internal Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research ICaR-VU, VU University Medical Center dDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatrics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam eNetherlands Consortium for Healthy Aging, Rotterdam, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Suzanne C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: Anke W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Enneman
authors.forename: Karin M A
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Swart
authors.forename: Natasja M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: van Schoor
authors.forename: Andre G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Uitterlinden
authors.forename: Yvo M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Smulders
authors.forename: Anton H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: van den Meiracker
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van der Velde
authors.forename: Francesco U S
authors.initials: FU
authors.lastname: Mattace-Raso
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods*; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000379:methods*; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*