[Determination of the aortic pulse wave velocity in 545 healthy subjects].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) in mid-aged and elderly populations and to study the correlation between gender and PWV and the tendency of PWV on different age groups. METHODS: According to the clinical trial guideline, we selected 545 healthy subjects (age, 31-85 years, 395 men and 150 women), and measured carotid-femoral PWV, using Complior. RESULTS: The average value of PWV in Chinese healthy subjects was 11.62 +/- 2.97 m/s. There was no significant difference in the PWV values between males and females who were older than 40 years, but the values of PWV were lower in females than in males in the 30-39 year-old group. PWV was positively correlated with age. In the present study, the reference values of PWV were established in the different age groups, based on the regression equations between PWV and age. CONCLUSION: Aortic pulse wave velocity seemed to be influenced by age but hardly influenced by gender in healthy subjects, so that the reference value of PWV should be established according to the different age groups. When aorta got stiffer, the value PWV got larger accordingly when age was increasing.

[Clinical study of the distensibility of large arteries in elderly patients with essential hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the change in the distensibility of large arteries and its influencing factors in elderly patients with essential hypertension. METHODS: Automatic measuring system for pulse wave velocity (PWV) was applied to examine carotid-femoral PWV as an index reflecting distensibility of large arteries. 118 hypertensive patients aged 64 - 83 (mean age 67.12 +/- 10.26) years were included in the study. Of them, 87 were males and 31 were females. RESULTS: PWV of 118 hypertensive patients increased with increasing age (P < 0.001). Multivariate regressive analysis demonstrated that age and systolic blood pressure had the close relationship with PWV (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Hypertension of the elderly could cause reduction of distensibility of large arteries. Age and systolic blood pressure had the close relationship with distensibility of large arteries in elderly patients with essential hypertension.