Published Online
on January 2, 2008

A more recent version of this article appeared on February 1, 2008

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correction (v52,pe31) All Versions of this Article: 51/2/188    most recent HYPERTENSIONAHA.107.092676v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Qasem, A. Articles by Avolio, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Qasem, A. Articles by Avolio, A. Related Collections Other Vascular biology

Submitted on May 6, 2007
Revised on May 29, 2007

Determination of Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity From Waveform Decomposition of the Central Aortic Pressure Pulse

Ahmed Qasem and Alberto Avolio^*

From the Australian School of Advanced Medicine, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: alberto.avolio{at}mq.edu.au.

Abstract—Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), calculated from pulse transit time (PTT) using 2 separate pulse recordings over a known distance, is a significant biomarker of cardiovascular risk. This study evaluates a novel method of determining PTT from waveform decomposition of central aortic pressure using a single pulse measurement. Aortic pressure was estimated from a transformed radial pulse and decomposed into forward and backward waves using a triangular flow wave. Pulse transit time was determined from cross-correlation of forward and backward waves. Pulse transit time, representing twice the PTT between 2 specific sites, was compared with independent measurements of carotid-femoral PTT in a cohort of 46 subjects (23 females; age 57±14 years). Linear regression between measured PTT (y; milliseconds) and calculated PTT (x; milliseconds) was y=1.05x-2.1 (r=0.67; P<0.001). This model was tested in a separate group of 44 subjects (21 females; age 55±14 years) by comparing measured carotid-femoral PWV (y; meters per second) and PWV calculated using the estimated value of PTT (eTR/2) and carotid femoral distance (x; meters per second; y=1.21x-2.5; r=0.82; P<0.001). Findings indicate that the time lag between the forward and backward waves obtained from the decomposition of aortic pressure wave can be used to determine PWV along the aortic trunk and shows good agreement with carotid-femoral PWV. This technique can be used as a noninvasive and nonintrusive method for measurement of aortic PWV using a single pressure recording.

Key words: pulse • aorta • arterial pressure • digital signal processing • blood flow

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. G. Kips, E. R. Rietzschel, M. L. De Buyzere, B. E. Westerhof, T. C. Gillebert, L. M. Van Bortel, and P. Segers Evaluation of Noninvasive Methods to Assess Wave Reflection and Pulse Transit Time From the Pressure Waveform Alone Hypertension, February 1, 2009; 53(2): 142 - 149. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. E. Westerhof, J. P. van den Wijngaard, J. P. Murgo, and N. Westerhof Location of a Reflection Site Is Elusive: Consequences for the Calculation of Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity Hypertension, September 1, 2008; 52(3): 478 - 483. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Hermeling, K. D. Reesink, A. P.G. Hoeks, and R. S. Reneman Modeled Decomposition of Aortic Pressure Waveforms Does Not Provide Estimates for Pulse Wave Velocity Hypertension, June 1, 2008; 51(6): e60 - e60. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Qasem and A. Avolio Response to Modeled Decomposition of Aortic Pressure Waveforms Does Not Provide Estimates for Pulse Wave Velocity Hypertension, June 1, 2008; 51(6): e61 - e61. [Full Text] [PDF]