Key result
Estimated pulse wave velocity mainly reflected the entered age (R²=0.90) rather than true vascular properties, with its modest correlation to measured PWV (R²=0.40) disappearing after age adjustment.
Why the study?
Single cuff oscillometric methods are used to estimate pulse wave velocity, but their utility for assessing vascular health in master athletes and their comparability to direct two-cuff methods required evaluation.
Does estimated pulse wave velocity using single cuff oscillometric methods accurately reflect true vascular properties compared to direct measurements?
Cross-Sectional (n=153)
Does estimated pulse wave velocity using single cuff oscillometric methods accurately reflect true vascular properties compared to direct measurements?
Effect estimate: R² 0.40
p-value: p=<0.05
Estimated pulse wave velocity using single cuff methods primarily reflects the patient's age rather than true vascular stiffness, limiting its utility for detecting vascular health changes.
Estimated PWV mainly reflects entered age rather than vascular properties; leaves open true effects of lifelong exercise on arterial stiffness.
Aim Pulse wave velocity independently predicts cardiovascular risk. Easy to use single cuff oscillometric methods are utilized in clinical practice to estimate pulse wave velocity. We applied the approach in master athletes to assess possible beneficial effects of lifelong exercise on vascular health. Furthermore, we compared single cuff measurements with a two-cuff method in another cohort. Methods We obtained single cuff upper arm oscillometric measurements thrice in 129 master athletes aged 35 to 86 years and estimated pulse wave velocity using the ArcSolver algorithm. We applied the same method in 24 healthy persons aged 24 to 55 years participating in a head down tilt bedrest study. In the latter group, we also obtained direct pulse wave velocity measurements using a thigh cuff. Results Estimated pulse velocity very highly correlated with age (R ² = 0.90) in master athletes. Estimated pulse wave velocity values were located on the same regression line like values obtained in participants of the head down tilt bed rest study. The modest correlation between estimated and measured PWV (r 2 0.40; p<0.05) was attenuated after adjusting for age; the mean difference between pulse wave velocity measurements was 1 m/s. Conclusion Estimated pulse wave velocity mainly reflects the entered age rather than true vascular properties and, therefore, failed detecting beneficial effects of life long exercise. Funding The AGBRESA-Study was funded by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the European Space Agency (ESA, contract number 4000113871/15/NL/PG) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA, contract number 80JSC018P0078). FH received funding by the DLR and the German Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology, BMWi (50WB1816). SM, JT and JJ were supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, BMK (SPACE4ALL Project, FFG No. 866761).
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Möstl et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy (n=153). Estimated pulse wave velocity (single cuff oscillometric method) vs. Measured pulse wave velocity was evaluated on Correlation between estimated and measured pulse wave velocity (R² 0.40, p=<0.05). Estimated pulse wave velocity mainly reflected the entered age (R²=0.90) rather than true vascular properties, with its modest correlation to measured PWV (R²=0.40) disappearing after age adjustment.
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