Reference intervals and percentiles for carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity in a healthy population aged between 9 and 87 years

Abstract

There is little information regarding age‐related reference intervals (RIs) of carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) for large healthy populations in South America. The aims of this study were to determine cfPWV RIs and percentiles in a cohort of healthy children, adolescents, and adults and to generate year‐to‐year percentile curves and body‐height percentile curves for children and adolescents. cfPWV was measured in 1722 healthy participants with no cardiovascular risk factors (9–87 years, 60% men). First, RIs were evaluated for males and females through correlation and covariate analysis. Then, mean and standard deviation age‐related equations were obtained for cfPWV using parametric regression methods based on fractional polynomials and age‐specific (year‐to‐year) percentile curves that were defined using the standard normal distribution. Age‐specific first, 2.5th, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 95th, 97.5th, and 99th percentile curves were calculated. Finally, height‐related cfPWV percentile curves for children and adolescents (<21 years) were established. After adjusting for age and blood pressure differences with respect to females, males showed higher cfPWV levels (6.60 vs 6.45 m/s; P < .01). Thus, specific RIs for males and females were reported. The study provides the largest database to date concerning cfPWV in healthy people from Argentina. Specific RIs and percentiles of cfPWV are now available according to age and sex. Specific percentiles of cfPWV according to body height were reported for people younger than 21 years.

Normal percentile curves for left atrial size in healthy children and adolescents

“…This study is part of a project started in 2010 in Tandil County (located 360 km south of Buenos Aires City), Argentina, aimed at investigating the cardiovascular disease and CRFs in a population‐based study. Preliminary data and reference values for several cardiovascular variables in children and adolescents have recently been published . The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee and pursued in agreement with the Declaration of Helsinki and the Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.…”

“…Preliminary data and reference values for several cardiovascular variables in children and adolescents have recently been published. [18][19][20] The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee and pursued in agreement with the Declaration of Helsinki and the Good Clinical Practice Guidelines. Written informed consent was always obtained from the participants or guardians in case of children or adolescents.…”

Reference intervals and percentile curve for left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), velocity time integral (VTI), and LVOT‐VTI‐derived hemodynamic parameters in healthy children and adolescents: Analysis of echocardiographic methods association and agreement

“…This research is part of a project started in 2014 in Tandil, Argentina, aimed at investigating the prevalence of CRFs . RIs for several cardiovascular variables have recently been published . This prospective study was developed after protocol approval by the Institutional Ethics Committee.…”

“…To that end, parametric regression methods based on fractional polynomials (FPs) were implemented using MedCalc software (MedCalc, Ostend, Belgium). Those methods, described by Royston and Wright, have been used by the European Arterial Stiffness Collaboration Group and by our group to obtain RIs for arterial parameters in our Argentinean population . Briefly, fitting FPs for age‐specific LVOT, VTI, CO Doppler and CI Doppler mean, and SD regression curves were defined using an iterative procedure (generalized least squares, GLS).…”

“…Those methods, described by Royston and Wright, 36 have been used by the European Arterial Stiffness Collaboration Group [37][38][39] and by our group to obtain RIs for arterial parameters in our Argentinean population. [20][21][22] Briefly, fitting FPs for age-specific LVOT, VTI, CO Doppler and CI Doppler mean, and SD regression curves were defined using an iterative procedure (generalized least squares, GLS). The obtained results enabled to estimate age-specific mean and SD for the different parameters (LVOT, VTI, CO Doppler , and CI Doppler ).…”