Hemodynamic sequelae of age-related increases in arterial stiffness in healthy women.

Stiffening of central arteries is believed to contribute to the increase in the incidence of cardiovascular disease with age, presumably through its adverse influence on arterial blood pressure. We found that (1) the physiologic link between age-related increases in arterial stiffness and blood pressure appears to be elevated systemic vascular resistance, and (2) increased arterial stiffness and systemic vascular resistance with age were inversely related to blood volume, stroke volume, and cardiac output.