Carotid to femoral artery tape measure distance multiplied by 0.8 showed the best agreement with MRI reference aortic path length (mean difference 0.26 cm; not statistically significant).
Cross-Sectional (n=98)
Which body surface distance estimate best corresponds with the real travelled aortic path length measured by MRI for carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity assessment?
The tape measure distance from the carotid to femoral artery multiplied by 0.8 provides the most accurate estimate of real aortic path length for pulse wave velocity measurement.
Mean Difference: 0.26
p-value: p=not statistically significant
OBJECTIVES: Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) is the gold standard method for determination of arterial stiffness. PWV is assessed by dividing travelled distance by travel time. Standardization and validation of the methodology for travelled distance measurement is of crucial importance. The aim of the current investigation was to standardize and validate the methodology for travelled distance measurement. METHODS: Real travelled carotid-femoral path lengths were measured with MRI in 98 healthy men/women (50% men, age 21-76 years) and are used as reference distance. This reference distance was compared with 11 estimates of aortic path length from body surface distances commonly used in PWV measurement, nine of them based on tape measures and two based on body height. Determinants of the difference between reference distance and the best body surface distance were determined. Additionally, the influence of body contours was identified. RESULTS: The tape measure distance from carotid to femoral artery (CA-FA), multiplied by 0.8, yielded the best agreement with the reference aortic path length difference 0.26 cm (SD 3.8), not statistically significant. Thirty percent of the variation in difference between the reference distance and tape measure distance (CA-FA × 0.8) was explained by age. Adding BMI increased this number to 34%. CONCLUSION: The tape measure distance from CA-FA, multiplied by 0.8, corresponds best with the real travelled aortic path length. This distance is moderately (yet statistically significantly) influenced by age and minimally by BMI.
Huybrechts et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy (n=98). Tape measure distance from carotid to femoral artery (CA-FA) multiplied by 0.8 vs. MRI reference distance was evaluated on Agreement with reference aortic path length measured by MRI (Mean difference 0.26 cm, p=not statistically significant). Carotid to femoral artery tape measure distance multiplied by 0.8 showed the best agreement with MRI reference aortic path length (mean difference 0.26 cm; not statistically significant).