Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity in Japanese University Students

Abstract

Objective Pulse wave velocity (PWV) correlates well with arterial distensibility and stiffness and is a useful non-invasive index to assess arteriosclerosis. The present study was conducted to evaluate the validity of noninvasive brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) measurements in overweight young adults.Methods Three hundred and fifty-three students were voluntarily enrolled (mean age: 20±2, 93 women and 260 men). The subjects were divided into three groups: normal (18.5< = body mass index (BMI) <25 n=120), overweight (25< = BMI <30 n=164) and obese (BMI > = 30, n=69). The baPWV was measured using volume-plethymographic apparatus.Results Hypertension and hyperlipidemia were diagnosed in one-third of the subjects of the obese group and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was diagnosed in 64% of the obese group. The baPWV in male subjects was significantly higher in the obese group than in the overweight group and in the males with NAFLD than in those without NAFLD. The stepwise linear regression analysis showed that PWV was significantly associated with mean blood pressure (p<0.001) and -GTP (p=0.03).Conclusion Mean blood pressure was a powerful determination for baPWV in the university students. BaPWV may be useful to predict the initial stage of arteriosclerosis and conceivably NAFLD including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in obese young adults.

To what extent does aortic pulse wave velocity estimate early atherosclerosis in Kurosawa and Kusanagi-hypercholesterolemic rabbits?

“…19,40 baPWV 16,17 was also useful to predict the early stages of atherosclerosis. 18,19 In contrast, Nishi et al 41 also observed a significant but poor correlation between baPWV and intima-media thickness in subjects with diabetes and no significant relationship with baPWV in the presence of plaques. Further investigation is needed to assess usefulness of baPWV for detection of early atherosclerosis.…”

“…There are pathological studies indicating that atherosclerotic lesions begin even in childhood. 37,38 Several investigators have demonstrated that baPWV showed a significant correlation with MAP in young adults 18,36 and with SBP and DBP in children. 35,39 In the Bogalusa Heart Study, Li et al 34 reported that childhood blood pressure was a predictor of arterial stiffness in adulthood.…”

“…Early detection of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hyperlipidemia, obesity and high blood pressure were identified in childhood [33][34][35] or adolescence 18,36 and establishment of appropriate primary prevention programs could influence health in later life. There are pathological studies indicating that atherosclerotic lesions begin even in childhood.…”

“…11,13 Katsuda et al 14 demonstrated previously that PWV in the entire aorta (AoPWV) in young Kurosawa and Kusanagi-hypercholesterolemic (KHC) rabbits, an animal model of familial hypercholesterolemia 15 showed a slight (about 10%) but significant increase compared with that in age-matched control rabbits, and that SBP and DBP were also significantly higher in the KHC rabbit group than in the control group. Some investigators reported that brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV), closely associated with AoPWV measured invasively, 16,17 was also useful to predict the early stage of atherosclerosis in obese young-adults 18 and Type 2 diabetic patients. 19 PWV can be lowered in hypertensive patients after antihypertensive therapy is performed.…”

Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity

“…Glycemic control and hyperinsulinemic state are important factors that determine the PWV in diabetic patients. The baPWV was significantly higher in obese [body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m 2 ] male subjects than in the overweight (25< BMI <30 kg/m 2 ) subjects of Japan university students, and in the male with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) than in those without NAFLD (10).…”