Relationship between pulse wave velocity and blood pressure classification and cardiovascular risk factors stratification in patients with essential hypertension

Objective To explore the relationship between pulse wave velocity(PWV)and blood pressure classification and cardiovascular risk factors stratification in patients with essential hypertension. Methods Totally,390 patients with essential hypertension were recruited in the study and their carotid- femoral PWVs were recorded by an automatic pulse wave velocity measurement system.The patients were stratified by their cardiovascular risk factors.PWVs were compared between patients with varied blood pressures or with and without cardiovascular risk factors.Results There was no significant difference in PWV between patients of phase 1 and phase 2 hypertension,[(10.8±1.7)m/s vs.(11.9±1.2)m/s,P =0.398].PWV in patients with more than one risk factor was significantly higher than that in those with hypertension alone,[(10.4±1.4)m/s vs.(11.7±1.4)m/s,P=0.018].Conclusions PWV in hypertensive patients with one or more than one other risk factors was significantly higher than that in those without other risk factors.Cardiovascular risk factor might play a more important role in arterial stiffness.