Abstract

Background: PWV is determined by dividing the distance by the time taken for the pulses traveling between two measuring sites, used as a marker of arterial stiffness and an important indicator for cardiovascular disease. Methods: A PWV measurement system, which offers a non-invasive, simple method of measurement, and simultaneous recording of six signlas(ECG, PCG and four pulse waves from carotid, femoral, radial and dorsalis pedis arteries) was developed. Seventeen healthy subjects with a mean age of 33 years(22 to 52) without any cardiovascular disease were participated for the experiment. Two observers(A and B) performed two consecutive measurements from the same subject in a random order. For the evaluation of stability and accuracy of the PWV measurement system, reproducibility of PWV from between-observer were also evaluated. Results: PWV $values(Mean{\pm}SD)$ measured by A were $7.07{\pm}1.48m/s$, $8.43{\pm}1.14m/s$ , $8.09{\pm}0.98m/s$ for aorta, arm, and leg, respectively. The values obtained from B were $6.76{\pm}1.00m/s$, $7.97{\pm}0.80m/s$, and $7.97{\pm}0.72m/s$ for aorta, arm, and leg, respectively. Between-observer $differences(mean{\pm}SEM)$ from the aorta, arm and leg were $0.14{\pm}0.15m/s$, $0.18{\pm}0.10m/s$ and $0.07{\pm}0.10m/s$. Reproducibility coefficients(2SD) from the aorta, arm, and leg were 0.62m/s, 0.84m/s and 0.86m/s. Correlation coefficients were significantly higher in aortic PWV, 0.93, compared to the coefficients for arm and leg. Coefficient of variance which reflects the reproducibility of the system ranged from $4.4{\sim}5.8%$ in all regional PWV. , Conclusion: Reproducibility of PWV in the study shows that the developed system has reliable and reproducible characteristics. The PWV measurement system used for the study offers comfortable and simple operation and provides accurate analysis and results with high reproducibility. Results of the PWV measurement system could contribute to various clinical applications in the future.

Keywords

• PWV(pulse wave velocity);
• pulse measurement system;
• cardiovascular disease;
• arterial stiffness;
• reproducibility;
• arteriosclerosis