Reference values for arterial stiffness indices in an Omani Arab population.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the reference values of arterial stiffness indices, particularly augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) using applanation tonometry in a healthy Omani Arab population.


METHODS
This prospective study was carried out in the Department of Clinical Physiology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman over a 2-year period from June 2011 to June 2013. The central AIx, aortic PWV (AoPWV), and central pulse pressure (CPP) were recorded from 120 healthy subjects recruited randomly from a normal population using a SphygmoCor device. The 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles were used to determine the reference ranges for men and women separately. Analyses were performed using univariate statistics.


RESULTS
The mean age of the cohort was 38 years for men, and 35 years for women, with the ages ranging from 20-53 years. The overall mean central AIx was 13±11%, and for AoPWV was 6.7±1.6 m/s. The central AIx was higher in women (17 versus 10%; p<0.001), whereas the AoPWV was higher in men (7.1 versus 6.3 m/s; p=0.003). Subjects were categorized according to the gender and age decade, and reference values for CPP, central AIx, and AoPWV were obtained.


CONCLUSIONS
This study reports the reference values for arterial stiffness indices from an Omani Arab population; the results of which should be interpreted in the context of its limitations.
Department of Physiology and Clinical Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 35, Postal Code 123, AlKhoud, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Fax. +968 24143514. E-mail. kh@squ.edu.om.
Khamis M
KM
Al-Hashmi
Mohammed A
MA
Al-Abri
Ibrahim S
IS
Al-Zakwani
Khalid A
KA
Al-Waili
Khalid H
KH
Al-Rasadi
Hilal A
HA
Al-Sabti
Mohammed O
MO
Hassan
D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology; D018912:Arabs; D062186:Arterial Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009850:Oman; D011446:Prospective Studies; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult