Pulse wave velocity as a marker of severity of coronary artery disease

Abstract

To determine whether pulse wave velocity (PWV) as a measure of arterial stiffness is a marker of coronary artery diseases (CAD), the authors did a cross-sectional study in 92 patients undergoing coronary angiography for suspected CAD. Arterial stiffness was assessed through recording PWV from the left carotid-right femoral arteries using an automated machine. The mean PWV was higher in patients with CAD than in those without CAD (11.13±0.91 vs 8.14±1.25 m/sec; P< .001). When the severity of CAD was expressed as 1-, 2-, and multiple-vessel disease, there was a significant association between the severity of CAD and PWV. PWV differed significantly with different categorical severity of CAD even when age and total cholesterol were controlled for. In a univariable analysis, PWV was higher with higher systolic blood pressure (P< .004). The authors conclude that arterial stiffness measured through PWV is an independent and complementary cardiovascular risk marker. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.