Correlation Between Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Pwv) at One Measurement and 24-Hour PWV in Men and Women Assessed by Two Different Methods in a Population-Based Study

Objective: Aortic stiffness can be assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV) using golden standard applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor; SC) or a 24-hour ambulatory oscillometric method (Arteriograph; AG). We aimed to compare AG with SC in a population-based study for PWV in men and women. Design and method: We used data from subjects (n= 1545; 748 men, 797 women; mean age 50 years, SD: 9.3) with complete data on both AG and SC from a population-based cohort. Correlations (Pearson's rho) were analyzed for PWV between carotid-femoral PWV using SC and aortic PWV (24-hours, daytime, nighttime) using AG stratified by sex. In addition, correlations with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were analyzed after adjustment for covariates. Results: Study characteristics are displayed in the Table. Mean PWV was higher in men and women when assessed by 24-hour AG (men: 9.1± 1.8 and women: 9.2± 1.5 m/s p=0.10) compared with SC (men: 7.9±1.5 and women: 8.3±1.6 m/s p<0.001). In women, SC-PWV was moderately correlated with 24-hour AG-PWV (r=0.43, p<0.001, Figure 1A), daytime AG-PWV (r=0.40, p<0.001), and nighttime AG-PWV (r=0.40, p<0.001). In men, SC-PWV was moderately correlated with 24-hour AG-PWV (r=0.41, p<0.001, Figure 1B) and nighttime AG-PWV (r=0.43, p<0.001), but less correlated with daytime AG-PWV (r=0.38, p<0.001). PWV also correlated with FPG levels. Conclusions: Mean PWV was lower when assessed by SphygmoCor compared with 24-hour Arteriograph in men and women. The methods were moderately correlated. Both measures of arterial stiffness were independently associated with fasting glycaemia in men, but significant only for SC-PWV in women, after full adjustment. Further studies are needed for prediction of cardiovascular endpoints comparing the methods.