Abstract
Objective: The measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV) is one of the non-invasive techniques for evaluating arterial stiffness. Aging and blood pressure are known to influence PWV. There are few reports that describe which factors influence longitudinal changes in PWV. In the present study, by analyzing changes in PWV and clinical data in both 2003 and 2004, we have investigated the factors affecting PWV changes. Methods and Results: The 1,170 subjects without any medication who underwent Ningen Dock (general health screening) in the above years were investigated. Their data included the mean bilateral PWV, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, total cholesterol (TCH), triglyceride (TG), LDL cholesterol (LDL-c), and HDL cholesterol (HDL-c), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). A total of 555 subjects (47.4%) showed a PWV decrease from 1,457.7 to 1,382.5 cm/s. In this group, BMI, body fat percentage, blood pressure, and TCH also decreased significantly. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that gender (female), aging, and increases in the body fat percentage, systolic blood pressure, and FPG significantly elevated PWV. Conclusions: PWV decreased with improvements in obesity and blood pressure. PWV is a good indicator of lifestyle guidance for patients undergoing.
