Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Abstract

Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity is considered the gold standard for measurements of central arterial stiffness obtained through noninvasive methods 1. Subjects are placed in the supine position and allowed to rest quietly for at least 10 min prior to the start of the exam. The proper cuff size is selected and a blood pressure is obtained using an oscillometric device. Once a resting blood pressure has been obtained, pressure waveforms are acquired from the right femoral and right common carotid arteries. The system then automatically calculates the pulse transit time between these two sites (using the carotid artery as a surrogate for the descending aorta). Body surface measurements are used to determine the distance traveled by the pulse wave between the two sampling sites. This distance is then divided by the pulse transit time resulting in the pulse wave velocity. The measurements are performed in triplicate and the average is used for analysis. Video LinkThe video component of this article can be found at

Arterial Elasticity in Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes

“…The methods used to assess PWV in this study were the same methods used in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging [16]. In short, PWV data were collected using a SphygmoCor device (AtCor Medical) that utilizes an EKG and high-fidelity tonometer to acquire waveforms from carotid, femoral, and radial pulses.…”

“…Peripheral PWV is calculated by measuring pulse waves at the carotid and radial arteries indicating blood flow to peripheral vascular beds. Reference values of pulse wave velocity in healthy humans were collected using similar methods (pulse wave tonometry divided by distance between sites) [16].…”

“…To our knowledge, there are no peripheral PWV reference values from large populations. The methods used in this study were consistent with study protocols used in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging [16].…”

“…First, we did not include a contemporaneous control group in this study. However, we used reference values from a large cohort of healthy volunteers for comparison [16]. Second, participants were accessed while on medications which may impact BP, heart rate, and PWV assessments.…”

High-intensity exercise to promote accelerated improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (HI-PACE): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…During rest, body surface measurements will be measured via a Gulick tape measure (Baseline, Fabrication Enterprises, White Plains, NY) in triplicate to determine the distance traveled by the pulse wave between the carotid and femoral artery sites. Study staff will palpate and mark the carotid artery pulse (between the larynx and sternocleidomastoid muscle in the neck), the sternal notch (superficial landmark of aortic arch), and femoral artery pulse (over the ventral thigh halfway between the pubic symphysis and anterior superior iliac spine) [48]. The mean distance for each site will be used for PWV calculation.…”