Association between the Estimated Pulse Wave Velocity and Stroke: a Population Based Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Aims

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a well-established measure of arterial stiffness which has been linked to cardiovascular disease. In recognition of the challenges associated with measuring PWV, researchers have developed an alternative method by equations rely on age and mean arterial pressure (ePWV). However, whether this parameter is indeed associated with stroke, has not been fully verified.

Methods

The current study was a branch of the ChinaHEART cohort in middle China that involved a total of 6860 community-dwelling adults. We examine the association between ePWV and stroke in a cross-sectional survey.

Results

According to restricted cubic spline analysis, the odds of stroke was increased in individuals with a higher level of ePWV; ROC analysis indicated that ePWV had good discriminatory power for stroke (AUC=0.746 in the adjusted model); according to logistic regression, the OR of each 1 m/s increase of ePWV was 1.26 (1.14-1.39, P<0.001), and the high ePWV group (≥10 m/s) had 2.22 (1.54-3.21, P<0.001) times risk of incident stroke.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that ePWV is independently linked to stroke. These findings support the use of vascular aging markers in the fight against stroke.