Studies show that arteriosclerosis advances first in the aorta and then proceeds to the cerebral and coronary arteries. Because the aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) can be used to estimate the extent of arteriosclerosis in the aorta, the use of PWV may allow earlier detection of arteriosclerotic diseases.
This study examined the relationship between PWV and other arteriosclerotic indicators including (1) arteriolar sclerotic changes in the retina as evaluated by Scheie's method (≥grade II); (2) ischemic ECG changes (Minnesota code: 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4 and/or 5-1, 5-2, 5-3); and (3) hypertension determined as systolic pressure ≥160mmHg and/or diastolic pressure >95mmHg. Subjects were 221, 564 male urban workers, 20-69 years of age, who participated in cardiovascular disease screening in major cities in Japan. This study sample did not include patients with hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, or gout, or those having a history of cardio- and/or cerebrovascular diseases.
We examined the prevalence of each of the above three indicators at various PWV levels (<7.0, 7.0-7.9, 8.0-8.9, 9.0-9.9, ≥10.0m/sec.) in different age groups (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 years old).
The prevalence of each of the three indicators increased exponentially as the PWV became faster in all age groups examined with the exception of the prevalence of hypertension due to elevated diastolic pressure in patients 60-69 years old; the prevalence of each condition increased significantly at PWV scores of 8.0m/sec or greater among those under 60 years old and 9.0m/sec or greater among those 60-69 years old.
It is suggested that PWV advances prior to the appearance of the indicators examined and that the use of PWV in mass screenings can contribute significantly to the prevention of arteriosclerotic diseases.