Association of incremental pulse wave velocity with cardiometabolic risk factors

Abstract

We investigate the association of incremental pulse wave velocity (ΔC; the change in pulse wave velocity over a cardiac cycle) with cardiometabolic risk factors and report the first and (currently) the largest population-level data. In a cross-sectional study performed in a cohort of 1373 general population participants, ΔC was measured using clinically validated ARTSENS devices. There were 455 participants in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) group whose average ΔC was ~ 28.4% higher than that of the non-metabolic syndrome (Non-MetS) group. Females with MetS showed ~ 10.9% elevated average ΔC compared to males of the Non-MetS group. As the number of risk factors increased from 0 to 5, the average ΔC escalated by ~ 55% (1.50 ± 0.52 m/s to 2.33 ± 0.91 m/s). A gradual increase in average ΔC was observed across each decade from the younger (ΔC = 1.53 ± 0.54 m/s) to geriatric (ΔC = 2.34 ± 0.59 m/s) populations. There was also a significant difference in ΔC among the blood pressure categories. Most importantly, ΔC ≥ 1.81 m/s predicted a constellation of ≥ 3 risks with AUC = 0.615, OR = 2.309, and RR = 1.703. All statistical trends remained significant, even after adjusting for covariates. The study provides initial evidence for the potential use of ΔC as a tool for the early detection and screening of vascular dysfunction, which opens up avenues for active clinical and epidemiological studies. Further investigations are encouraged to confirm and establish the causative mechanism for the reported associations.

Sex Differences in the Feasibility of Aerobic Exercise Training for Improving Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

“…In contrast, males may have worse peripheral arterial and microvascular health, which may explain the increased AIx despite no increase in central PWV [ 47 ]. As cardiometabolic risk factors can increase arterial stiffness via pathological structural and functional vascular remodelling [ 48 ], the observed sex difference in arterial health outcomes may also be contributed to by the greater improvements for females in brachial systolic pressure and waist circumference, and clinically meaningful improvements in glucose control. These findings necessitate further investigation into the potential sex-specific benefits of exercise in this population to optimize outcomes in both sexes.…”

Image-free ultrasound for local and regional vascular stiffness assessment: the ARTSENS Plus

“…On the other hand, local stiffness measures are able to provide insights into the functional stiffening and structural abnormalities of a small arterial section [8], even at a sub-local level [19]. Beyond typical stiffness-specific investigations, the potential use of central arteries’ local indices for assessing (or as a surrogate marker for) the cardiac afterload [20], vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome [21], continuous central BP parameters [22], and the dynamics of intracycle stiffness variations [23,24] have been demonstrated by independent researchers. Further discussion on the comparison of local versus regional stiffness indices and their unique pathophysiological implications is beyond this article's scope of research, and is summarized in allied studies [8].…”