Effect of Age of PWV and arterial stiffness Aortic PVW has been shown to be one of the best independent predictors of cardiovascular mortality in many populations. It has been shown to be a powerful predictor of cardiovascular death in essential hypertensive patients with end-stage renal disease where SBP or PP was not as effective [68]. It has been shown to be more effective at predicting mortality in diabetics than SBP [69]. PWV has also been proven to be the best predictors of cardiovascular mortality in large cohorts of hypertensive patients with mean age of 60±13 years [72]. PWV as a surrogate for Arterial stiffness seems therefore to have the best predictive capacities in patient mortality outcome [68-72]. Many mechanisms have been…show more content… Stiffening of the artery has also been shown to have a high correlation with atherosclerosis [76].
Many studies have been conducted that have been aimed at determining the effect of age on the certain parameters shown to be predictors of cardiovascular disease. These parameters include PWV and AIx, measures of arterial stiffness, that can be easily measured non-invasively, as well as CBP and PBP.
In the Past AIx has been reported as changing linearly with age i.e. as age increases so dose AIx [77, 78]. However, two more recent studies [79, 80] have shown changes in AIx are non-linear. It was shown that any change in AIx is more marked in younger individuals (<50) and age had a greater effect when below the age of 50 (Fig 4). It has also been demonstrated that low birth weight gives increased risk of elevated AIx in adolescence [81]. However the literature disagrees what AIx does over the age of 60, one study has shown a gradual decline in AIx past the age of 60 [79], where as another reports a plateau past the age of 60, It is unclear whether this is an effect of sample size or a difference in demographic between the studies [80]. It should also be noted that AIx is commonly higher in females [82].
PWV has in the past been shown to change linearly with age [83]. However in larger more recent studies with a bigger age range this has been shown to be false, that PWV