OBJECTIVE: To analyze the changes of carotid-femoral and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity in patients with essential hypertension, and effects of age and levels blood pressure levels on these changes. METHODS: Automatic pulse wave velocity (PWV) measuring system was applied to examine carotid-femoral PWV (CFPWV) and carotid-radial PWV (CRPWV) as the parameters reflecting central elastic large arterial and peripheral muscular medium-sized arterial elasticity respectively. 517 hypertensive patients aged 17-82 years (272 males and 245 females, mean age 52.0 +/- 13.0 years) and 118 healthy subjects aged 19-82 years (52 males and 66 females, mean age 54.2 +/- 13.8 years) were recruited in the study. RESULTS: CFPWV increased with age in both groups (P < 0.001), whereas CRPWV did not change significantly. CFPWV and CRPWV both increased with blood pressure. A stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that age and systolic blood pressure were positively related to CFPWV independently, while diastolic blood pressure was significantly associated with CRPWV. CONCLUSIONS: Age and components of blood pressure exert different effects on elasticity of central elastic large artery and peripheral muscular medium-sized artery. Examining the change of large arterial elasticity has important clinical value in hypertensive patients.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the changes of carotid-femoral and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity in patients with essential hypertension, and effects of age and levels blood pressure levels on these changes. METHODS: Automatic pulse wave velocity (PWV) measuring system was applied to examine carotid-femoral PWV (CFPWV) and carotid-radial PWV (CRPWV) as the parameters reflecting central elastic large arterial and peripheral muscular medium-sized arterial elasticity respectively. 517 hypertensivepatients aged 17-82 years (272 males and 245 females, mean age 52.0 +/- 13.0 years) and 118 healthy subjects aged 19-82 years (52 males and 66 females, mean age 54.2 +/- 13.8 years) were recruited in the study. RESULTS:CFPWV increased with age in both groups (P < 0.001), whereas CRPWV did not change significantly. CFPWV and CRPWV both increased with blood pressure. A stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that age and systolic blood pressure were positively related to CFPWV independently, while diastolic blood pressure was significantly associated with CRPWV. CONCLUSIONS: Age and components of blood pressure exert different effects on elasticity of central elastic large artery and peripheral muscular medium-sized artery. Examining the change of large arterial elasticity has important clinical value in hypertensivepatients.