Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity as a measurement for increased carotid intima-media thickness: A comparison with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in a Chinese community-based cohort

Development and feasibility assessment of a virtual reality-based aerobic exercise program with real-time pulse rate monitoring on hemodynamic and arterial stiffness in healthy people: a pilot study

Introduction

Virtual reality (VR) exercises are reportedly beneficial as a physical activity tool for health promotion and rehabilitation, and can also help individuals exercise under professional supervision. We developed and investigated the potential feasibility of a VR-based aerobic exercise program using the XBOX ONE console and Kinect sensor with real-time pulse rate monitoring. The VR setting consisted of two-dimensional (2D) environments via computer, laptop, or television screens. In addition, the study investigated the potential feasibility of the VR-based exercise program on hemodynamic response and arterial stiffness in healthy participants of various ages.

Methods

Healthy participants (n = 30) aged > 18 years were enrolled in the VR exercise-based program. All participants were required to wear a polar heart rate (HR) monitor set for moderate-intensity exercise, targeting 40%-59% of their HR reserve. Hemodynamic and arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity) were noninvasively measured. The Borg scale rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was also assessed.

Results

Following a VR-guided exercise routine, all participants performed moderate-intensity exercise with no adverse health outcomes during or after the exercise. The effects of VR-based aerobic exercise extended beyond enhanced central hemodynamic and arterial stiffness. However, neither hemodynamic nor arterial stiffness showed significant differences before and after the VR exercise, except for a higher RPE response following the exercise program.

Conclusion

VR-based aerobic exercise with pulse rate monitoring is a promising physical activity tool to induce physiological changes and impact dyspnea scales and is also feasible for administration to healthy populations.

Blood pressure levels within normotensive range are independently associated with increased risk of arterial stiffness in adults without hypertension or prehypertension

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

High blood pressure (BP) indices, including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and pulse pressure (PP) predict cardiovascular diseases and mortality. However, the association of these BP indices with arterial stiffness (AS) in the normotensive population (BP < 120/80 mmHg) remains unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Study participants who underwent health checkups at a tertiary referred center were recruited between November 2018 to December 2019. 2129 participants were enrolled after excluding those aged <18 years old, with elevated BP, history of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and stroke, or with incomplete data. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) values were examined for evaluation of AS. Participants with higher blood pressure indices had significantly higher baPWV. Multiple linear regression revealed that all BP indices were positively associated with baPWV. According to the binary logistic regression analysis, participants in the higher SBP and MAP quartiles were significantly related to AS. The odds ratio (OR) for SBP Q2, Q3 and Q4 vs. Q1 were 6.06, 10.06 and 17.78 whereas the OR for MAP Q2, Q3 and Q4 vs. Q1 were: 5.07, 5.28 and 10.34. For DBP and PP, only participants belonging to the highest quartile were associated with AS(OR for DBP Q4 vs. Q1: 2.51; PP Q4 vs Q1: 1.94).

CONCLUSIONS

BP indices were linearly related to the baPWV. Normotensive participants with higher quartiles of SBP, DBP, MAP, and PP, remained associated with increased AS. The SBP and MAP levels exhibited a more prominent relationship with AS.

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity increasing with heart rate accelerates

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) indicates the degree of vascular stiffness. This study aimed to explore the association between heart rate (HR) and brachial-ankle (ba)-PWV in patients with pacemaker implantation. This retrospective observational study included patients who underwent permanent pacemaker implantation at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University between December 2018 and December 2021. All patients were pacemaker-dependent, and the ba-PWV values were collected during HR setted from 60 to 100 bpm. A total of 68 patients (34 males, aged 65.97 ± 9.90 years) were included in this study. There were significant difference of ba-PWV and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) among different HR (both P < 0.001). After adjusted systolic blood pressure (SBP), DBP, age, and sex, the generalized estimating equation showed ba-PWV was independently associated with HR, with increased HR showed higher coefficient: 70 bpm: β = 42.26 (95% CI: 15.34-69.18, P = 0.002), 80 bpm: β = 84.16 (95% CI: 52.48-115.84, P < 0.001), 90 bpm: β = 129.27 (95% CI: 52.48-115.84, P < 0.001), and 100 bpm: 186.31 (95% CI: 137.02-235.59, P < 0.001). The results demonstrate that changes in HR may affect the ba-PWV, the ba-PWV values tend to be higher when HR accelerates.

Association between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE/AIM

To investigate the relationship between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2019 to 2021, our hospital enrolled 322 patients with T2DM. Clinical information and biochemical indicators of patients were collected from the inpatient electronic medical record system and analyzed retrospectively. Fundus photography, nerve conduction testing, and sensory threshold measurement were all conducted on the subjects. We measured the pulse wave velocity on both sides of the arm and ankle, then averaged the results. The enrolled cases were divided into two groups based on the baPWV: Group 1 (<the reference cutoff value, n = 160) and Group 2 (≥ the reference cutoff value, n = 162). The association between associated factors and baPWV abnormalities was investigated using a logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Group 2 had higher Systolic Blood Pressure(SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), duration of diabetes, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and Serum Uric Acid (SUA) than group 1 (all p < 0.05). The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy and nephropathy in group 2 was higher compared to group 1 (p < 0.05). After classifying subjects according to the presence or absence of diabetic complications, we found that the baPWV of the Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) group and Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) group was noticeably higher than that of non-DPN group and non-DN group, respectively (both p < 0.05). The baPWV increased with the aggravation of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that DBP (OR 1.039, 95%CI 1.010-1.068 p = 0.008), duration of diabetes (OR 1.059, 95%CI 1.017-1.103 p = 0.006), FPG (OR 1.104, 95%CI 1.025-1.188 p = 0.009) and BUN (OR 1.128, 95%CI 1.001-1.270 p = 0.048) were all independently and positively associated with baPWV.

CONCLUSIONS

The baPWV is strongly associated with microvascular complications of T2DM. The DBP, duration of diabetes, FPG, and BUN were all independent associated factors of baPWV.

Association between pulse wave velocity and the 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in the Chinese population: A community-based study

Accumulated evidence has shown that carotid-femoral and brachial-ankle PWV well predict cardiovascular events but it is still unclear if the predictability is same or not. In this cross-sectional study based on a community atherosclerosis cohort in Beijing, China, a total of 5282 participants without previous coronary heart disease and stroke were enrolled from a community atherosclerosis cohort in Beijing, China. The 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk were calculated by the China-PAR model, and < 5%, 5%-10% and > 10% were defined as low, intermediate, and high risk, respectively. The average baPWV and cfPWV values were 16.63 ± 3.35 m/s and 8.45 ± 1.78 m/s, respectively. The mean 10-year ASCVD risk was 6.98% (interquartile range: 3.90%-12.01%). The patients with low, intermediate, and high 10-year ASCVD risk accounted for 34.84% (1840), 31.94% (1687),, and 33.23% (1755) respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that for every 1 m/s increase in baPWV and cfPWV, the 10-year ASCVD risk increased by 0.60% (95% confidence interval: 0.56%-0.65%, p < .001) and 1.17% (95% confidence interval: 1.09%-1.25%, p < .001), respectively. The diagnostic ability of the baPWV was comparable to the cfPWV (area under the curve: 0.870 [0.860-0.879] vs. 0.871 [0.861-0.881], p = .497). In conclusion, baPWV and cfPWV are positively associated with the 10-year risk of ASCVD in the Chinese community-based population, with a nearly identical association with a high 10-year risk of ASCVD.

Comparison of carotid-femoral and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in association with carotid plaque in a Chinese community-based population

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is the most widely used measurement of arterial stiffness in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the relationships between carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) and the presence of carotid plaque. This study was designed cross-sectionally and included 6027 participants from a community-based cohort in Beijing. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate and compare the associations of cfPWV and baPWV with the presence of carotid plaque. The mean (SD) cfPWV and baPWV were 8.55 ± 1.83 and 16.79 ± 3.36, respectively. The prevalence of carotid plaque was 45.26% (n = 2728). Both cfPWV (per 1 m/s increase: OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.07-1.16) and baPWV (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02-1.06) were independently associated with carotid plaque after adjusting for various confounders. Compared with bottom quartile (cfPWV ≤7.31 m/s and baPWV ≤14.44 m/s), the top quartile of cfPWV and baPWV had a significantly higher prevalence of carotid plaque (for cfPWV: OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.32-1.92; for baPWV: OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.26-1.86). However, the relationship of baPWV and carotid plaque was nonlinear, with a positive trend only when baPWV < 16.85 m/s. When comparing relationships between PWV indices and carotid plaque in one model, both cfPWV and baPWV were significantly associated with carotid plaque in participants with baPWV < 16.85 m/s; however, only cfPWV was independently associated with carotid plaque in participants with baPWV ≥16.85 m/s. Both cfPWV and baPWV were significantly associated with carotid plaque in the Chinese community-based population. Furthermore, cfPWV was more strongly correlated with carotid plaque than baPWV in participants with baseline baPWV ≥16.85 m/s.