Korean J Fam Med.  2011 Nov;32(7):406-411. 10.4082/kjfm.2011.32.7.406.

The Relationship among Pulse Wave Velocity, Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index and Heart Rate Variability in Adult Males

• Ahn JH
• Kong M

• KMID: 2234763
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2011.32.7.406

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) are non-invasive tools to measure atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness. Heart rate variability (HRV) has proven to be a non-invasive powerful tool in the investigation of the autonomic cardiovascular control. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship among PWV, ABI, and HRV parameters in adult males.
METHODS
The study was carried out with 117 males who visited a health care center from April, 2009 to May, 2010. We conducted blood sampling (total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, cholesterol, fasting glucose) and physical examination. We studied brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) and ABI. We examined HRV parameters including standard deviation of NN interval (SDNN), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), LF/HF ratio. We analyzed the relationship among baPWV, ABI, and HRV parameters.
RESULTS
SDNN had a significant negative correlation with age, systolic blood pressure and heart rate. LF and HF had a significant negative correlation with age, and age and heart rate, respectively. baPWV was significantly and positively associated with age, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, total cholesterol, fasting glucose and heart rate. ABI was negative correlated significantly with systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate. After adjusting for all associated variables, baPWV was not correlated with HRV parameters, but there was a significant positive association between SDNN and ABI (r = 0.195, P = 0.014).
CONCLUSION
SDNN of HRV parameters had a significant positive correlation with ABI.

Keyword

Heart Rate Variability; Pulse Wave Velocity; Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index

MeSH Terms

Adult
Atherosclerosis
Blood Pressure
Cholesterol
Delivery of Health Care
Fasting
Glucose
Heart
Heart Rate
Humans
Lipoproteins
Male
Physical Examination
Pulse Wave Analysis
Vascular Stiffness
Cholesterol
Glucose
Lipoproteins