Determinants of a blunted carotid-to-radial pulse wave velocity decline in response to hyperemia.

Carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (PWV) decreases in normal healthy individuals following hyperemia provoked by release of arterial cuff occlusion. To determine the effects of specific cardiovascular (CV) risk factors on the hyperemic PWV response, we measured PWV before and after brachial artery (BA) occlusion in 218 participants (66% males, age 56 +/- 19 years), with and without CV risk factors/disease. DeltaPWV ranged from -46% to +35% and values were normally distributed. On univariate analyses, DeltaPWV correlated with age, hypertension (Htn), hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus (DM), coronary disease, congestive heart failure (CHF), smoking, and mean arterial pressure (MAP). On multivariate analysis, DeltaPWV was independently related to Htn (B = 4.56, P = .03) and CHF (B = 7.34, P = .008) and trended toward a higher MAP (B = .113, P = .067), DM (B = 4.01, P = .11), and hypercholesterolemia (B = 3.36, P = .12). In conclusion, hyperemic changes in carotid-radial PWV values are independently related to Htn and CHF and possibly DM and hyperlipidemia.