Arterial Stiffness Journals

There has been comprehensive analysis of the relationship of increased arterial stiffness and various pathophysiological disorders in adults, which are often correlated with increased cardiovascular risk. Studies have also shown that arterial stiffness is associated with alterations of the end organs, including left ventricular hypertrophy and intimate-media thickening in adults independent of systemic blood pressure. Importantly, in the general adult population, in the elderly, in adults with hypertension, in the end-stage renal failure and with impaired glucose tolerance, the rigidity of central arteries as assessed by aortic pulse wave velocity and carotid dispensability has been shown to have independent predictive value for cardiovascular events. While central arterial stiffness has been the focus of most adult studies, it is important not to ignore the contribution of stiffness of the smaller peripheral arteries to total vascular impedance. In smaller arteries and branching points even structural remodelling occurs. Changes in conduit mechanical properties and resistive arteries influence wave reflections and contribute to increased late systolic blood pressure within the aortic root. Consequently, it has also been shown that the carotid augmentation index has an independent predictive value for cardiovascular events in adults with hypertension and end-stage renal failure and those undergoing percutaneous coronary procedures. Associations have also been identified between increased stiffness of small arteries, as measured by pulse contour analysis, and aging, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular events.