Aging from <40 years to >70 years increased peak central pulse pressure from 29.1 to 60.2 mm Hg, driven by increased arterial stiffening and an altered pattern of ventricular ejection.
Cross-Sectional (n=2,033)
No
The age-related increase in central pulse pressure in women is driven by a combination of arterial stiffening and an altered pattern of ventricular ejection.
Absolute Event Rate: 60.2% vs 29.1%
p-value: p=<0.001
We examined the influence of arterial stiffening and ventricular ejection dynamics on the age-related increase in central pulse pressure. A total of 2033 women aged 18 to 91 years from the Twins UK cohort were studied. Aortic flow and central blood pressure were measured by Doppler sonography and carotid tonometry, respectively. Measured values of central pulse pressure were compared with values predicted from aortic pulse wave velocity and ventricular ejection characteristics. Central pulse pressure at the first shoulder ( P1) increased with age from 29.2±8.0 in those 70 years (means±SD; P70 years ( P<0.001). The ratio of P2/P1 closely mirrored the ratio of ejection volume to ejection velocity at corresponding time points, and the proportionately greater increase in P2 compared with P1 was explained by increased ventricular ejection up to the time of P2. This increased from 52.5±13.1 to 59.3±17.8 mL ( P<0.001) in parallel with an age-related increase in stroke volume and body mass index. These results suggest that the age-related change in central pulse wave morphology is driven mainly by an increase in arterial stiffening and altered pattern of ventricular ejection.
Li et al. (Mon,) conducted a cross-sectional in Age-related increase in pulse pressure (n=2,033). Aging vs. Younger age (<40 years) was evaluated on Central pulse pressure at the second peak (P2) (p=<0.001). Aging from <40 years to >70 years increased peak central pulse pressure from 29.1 to 60.2 mm Hg, driven by increased arterial stiffening and an altered pattern of ventricular ejection.