Background
In hemodialysis patients, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) levels are affected by particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or less (PM₁₀). We conducted this study to determine whether there is an association between short- and long-term PM₁₀ exposure and baPWV in apparently healthy adults aged 40 years and older.
Methods
A total of 1,628 subjects who underwent health examinations between 2006 and 2009 were included in the study. On the basis of the day of medical screening, the 1–3-day and 365-day moving averages of PM₁₀ concentrations were used to evaluate the association between short- and long-term exposure to PM₁₀ and high baPWV (≥the third quartile of baPWV, 1,534 cm/s) using logistic regression models. Additional subgroup analyses were conducted according to age, sex, obesity (body mass index ≥25.0 kg/m²), and comorbidities such as metabolic syndrome.
Results
No statistically significant associations were identified between short-term and long-term exposure to PM₁₀ and baPWV in any of the subjects and subgroups. A 10-μg/m³ increase in the 2-day moving average of PM₁₀ exposure was marginally associated with high baPWV in non-obese subjects (odds ratio, 1.059; P=0.058). This association in non-obese subjects was significantly different from that in obese subjects (P=0.038).
Conclusion
This study did not show statistically significant associations between short-term and long-term exposure to PM₁₀ and baPWV in apparently healthy subjects. With short-term exposure to PM₁₀, non-obese subjects showed a marginally unfavorable association with baPWV. Further studies are necessary to validate and elucidate the mechanism underlying the effect of PM₁₀ on baPWV.

Citations

• Long-term exposure to reduced specific-size ambient particulate matter and progression of arterial stiffness among Chinese adults
  Dankang Li, Shouling Wu, Linxi Tang, Shuohua Chen, Feipeng Cui, Yudiyang Ma, Run Liu, Jianing Wang, Yaohua Tian
  Journal of Hazardous Materials.2024; 466: 133482.     CrossRef
• Association between exposure to air pollution and arterial stiffness in participants with and without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
  Haoyu Zhang, Jinghao Sun, Yinghua Zhang, Keling Xiao, Yang Wang, Jin Si, Yan Li, Lijie Sun, Ting Zhao, Ming Yi, Xi Chu, Jing Li
  Clinical Research in Cardiology.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Constituents and Vascular Damage in a Population with Metabolic Abnormality in China
  Lijin Lin, Huxiang Huang, Fang Lei, Tao Sun, Ze Chen, Kun Qin, Manyao Li, Yingying Hu, Xuewei Huang, Xingyuan Zhang, Peng Zhang, Xiao-Jing Zhang, Zhi-Gang She, Jingjing Cai, Shujuan Yang, Peng Jia, Hongliang Li
  Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis.2023; 30(11): 1552.     CrossRef

Citations

• The Influence of Autonomic Nervous System during Resting State on the Peripheral Pulse Wave Velocity in Young Adult Males
  Zainab Nazar Al-Wahab, Ali Fouad Saleem, Bassam Talib Al-Gailani
  Mustansiriya Medical Journal.2024; 23(1): 34.     CrossRef
• Pulse Wave Velocity: Methodology, Clinical Applications, and Interplay with Heart Rate Variability
  Niklas Pilz, Viktor Heinz, Timon Ax, Leon Fesseler, Andreas Patzak, Tomas Lucca Bothe
  Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity increasing with heart rate accelerates
  Qian Wang, Xinxin Xu, Xue Geng, Haijuan Hu, Wei Cui
  Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Acute psychological stress, autonomic function, and arterial stiffness among women
  Jeongok G. Logan, Bethany A. Teachman, Xiaoyue Liu, Charles R. Farber, Zhenqi Liu, Brian H. Annex
  International Journal of Psychophysiology.2020; 155: 219.     CrossRef
• Pulse rate variability in cardiovascular health: a review on its applications and relationship with heart rate variability
  Elisa Mejía-Mejía, James M May, Robinson Torres, Panayiotis A Kyriacou
  Physiological Measurement.2020; 41(7): 07TR01.     CrossRef
• Fed and fasted states on heart rate variability, hemodynamic heart rate and blood pressure in adults submitted to moderate aerobic exercise
  J.A.L. Rodrigues, A.C. Yamane, T.C.P. Gonçalves, C. Kalva-Filho, M. Papoti, C.R.B. Júnior
  IJC Heart & Vasculature.2019; 23: 100378.     CrossRef
• Complex nonlinear autonomic nervous system modulation link cardiac autonomic neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease
  Kinda Khalaf, Herbert F. Jelinek, Caroline Robinson, David J. Cornforth, Mika P. Tarvainen, Hayder Al-Aubaidy
  Frontiers in Physiology.2015;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Noninvasive Technique for the Diagnosis of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Premature Infants by Analyzing Pulse Wave Phases on Photoplethysmography Signals Measured in the Right Hand and the Left Foot
  Sabrina Goudjil, Fatiha Imestouren, Aurelie Armougon, Lucie Razafimanantsoa, Mahdi Mahmoudzadeh, Fabrice Wallois, André Leke, Guy Kongolo, Vincenzo Lionetti
  PLoS ONE.2014; 9(6): e98763.     CrossRef

Background
Several studies showed the relationship between serum homocysteine and pulse wave velocity, but their subjects were confi ned to high risk group for cardiovascular diseases and recent study revealed no relationship in young healthy adults. We hypothesized that time interval would be needed for serum homocysteine to infl uence pulse wave velocity after exposure to vascular endothelium. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between serum homocysteine and pulse wave velocity in middle aged women on the basis of that hypothesis and necessity for further study in general population.Methods: The study subjects were 110 middle aged women who visited a health promotion center of a general hospital. We collected medical history by means of self-reported questionnaire and measured height, weight, blood pressure and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Blood sampling was performed after overnight fasting. We analyzed the relationship between several cardiovascular risk factors and baPWV and performed multiple regression analysis.Results: BaPWV velocity was correlated signifi cantly with age, mean blood pressure, serum homocysteine, total cholesterol and diabetes mellitus, but not with body mass index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine clearance, alcohol intake, hypertension and smoking. In multiple regression, there was a signifi cant association between age (P = 0.04), moderate hyperhomocysteinemia (P = 0.02), mean blood pressure (P < 0.001) and baPWV.Conclusion: In middle aged women, there was an independently positive association between serum homocysteine and baPWV.

Citations

• Borderline-High Mean Corpuscular Volume Levels Are Associated with Arterial Stiffness among the Apparently Healthy Korean Individuals
  Haneul Kwon, Byoungjin Park
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2020; 41(6): 387.     CrossRef

Background
Elevated plasma homocysteine appears to be causally related to atherosclerosis by inducing both endothelial dysfunction and vascular structure alteration. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, a non invasive means of measuring atherosclerosis, reflects arterial stiffness. In this study, we investigated a association between the plasma homocysteine level and arterial stiffness on Korean adults. Methods: The study group comprised 405 subjects selected from examinees in the Health Promotion Center. Medical history, medication, and life style were recorded through a questionnaire and physical examination was performed on all subjects. We measured glucose tolerance index, lipid profile, inflammatory index, plasma homocysteine level. We studied brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) as a measure of arterial stiffness. Results: 379 subjects were examined all components. Mean ages of 172 of male are 54.5 ± 8.7 years and those of female are 57.2 ± 7.0 years. The baPWV was observed to be positively correlated with age, blood pressure, hs-CRP, and homocysteine in male. In contrast male, age, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose tolerance index, lipid profile except for HDL cholesterol, hs-CRP, and homocysteine were positively correlated with baPWV in female. The baPWV was increased according to the level of plasma homocysteine in male. After controlling for risk factors of cardiovascular disease ,homocysteine was associated with increased baPWV. Conclusion: The results indicate that elevated plasma homocysteine was associated with baPWV in middle-aged male after adjustment to risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

Citations

• Borderline-High Mean Corpuscular Volume Levels Are Associated with Arterial Stiffness among the Apparently Healthy Korean Individuals
  Haneul Kwon, Byoungjin Park
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2020; 41(6): 387.     CrossRef
• Relationship of Serum Homocysteine with Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity in Middle Aged Women
  Byoung-Jin Park, Hye-Yun Chun, Ah-Reum Han, Ji-Ae Lim, Duk-Chul Lee, Jae-Yong Shim, Hye-Ree Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2009; 30(6): 457.     CrossRef

Background
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by a core set of disorders, including abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance and hypertension. Many studies have shown that MetS is associated with increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and related mortality. However, the relationship of MetS with early stage of cardiovascular diseases, which is even more important from a prevention prespective, has not been examined extensively. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is known to predict future cardiovascular events. Thus, we examined the relationship of MetS, defined using the NCEP-ATP III criteria, with baPWV. Methods: We examined a total of 400 participants who did not have a past history of either coronary heart disease or peripheral vascular disease. All subjects underwent physical examination, blood chemistry, and baPWV. Results: Compared with subjects without MetS, subjects with MetS had increased age, body mass index (BMI), and ALT. Mean value of baPWV (adjusted for age, BMI, and blood pressure) was significantly higher in subjects with MetS (P=0.002). The baPWV was positively correlated with age, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in subjects with MetS. In group without MetS, the baPWV was associated with age, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood sugar, AST, ALT, homocysteine, CRP, and ferritin. The mean values of baPWV with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 components of MetS were 1,362.3⁑182.2 cm/s, 1,531.3⁑267.0 cm/s, 1,694.1⁑315.8 cm/s, 1,777.0⁑334.0 cm/s, 2,087.7⁑192.3 cm/s, respectively. Conclusion: In this study, the MetS was associated with the risk for increased baPWV. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2007;28:271-277)

Background
: Increased abdominal obesity is clearly associated with metabolic diseases and associated with increased risk for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. But the mechanisms underlying these associations are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to correlate the regional body composition with pulse wave velocity in the overweight and obese women.

Methods : We investigated 104 overweight and obese participants. Regional body composition was distinguished by anthropometry, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and computed tomography (CT). For estimates of arterial stiffness, we measured brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Fasting blood glucose, lipid parameters, CRP, and free fatty acid were measured. Pearson's correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were conducted to identify the relationship between baPWV and regional body composition.

Results : Average age, fasting blood sugar, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, HOMA-IR, abdominal visceral fat area measured by CT, visceral fat area/ subcutaneous fat area (VSR), and visceral fat area/midthigh muscle area (VMR) were all significantly higher in the visceral obesity group than the subcutaneous obesity group. BaPWV was positively correlated with age, blood pressure, triglyceride, waist circumference, waist hip ratio, abdominal visceral fat area measured by CT, and VSR and inversely correlated with thigh subcutaneous fat area. In multiple regression models, after adjustment for confounding factors, baPWV was independently correlated with abdominal visceral fat area measured by CT (R²=0.560, P=0.006).

Conclusion : Abdominal visceral fat area measured by CT was the only measurement positively associated with baPWV which explains the relationship of regional body composition and arterial stiffness.

Background
: As recent studies show that pulse pressure (PP) is the most potent predictor of cardiovascular diseases, many studies focus on the non-invasive methods to evaluate arterial stiffness influencing on pulse pressure. This study attempted to show the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) as a classical factor of arterial stiffness in Korean adults.

Methods : The subjects were 305 adults who had visited a health care center of a university medical center in Suwon from December, 2003 to April, 2004. We had measured the aortic pulse wave velocity through auto PWV analyzer (PP-1000, Hanbyul Meditech, Korea) and had compared the relationships with smoking, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, body mass index, sex, age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure, pulse pressure, and fasting glucose.

Results : There were positive correlation between aortic pulse wave velocity and age (P=0.001), fasting blood sugar (P=0.013), systolic blood pressure (P=0.007), diastolic blood pressure (P=0.038), mean blood pressure (P=0.012), pulse pressure (P=0.035), total cholesterol (P=0.009), low density lipoprotein (P=0.023). There were significant differences of the groups by sex (P=0.029).

Conclusion : The estimation of the aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) using the auto PWV analyzer (PP-1000, Hanbyul Meditech, Korea) seems to be a useful diagnostic method of early detection of atherosclerosis for management and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In future more data about correlations between cardiovascular risk factors and pulse wave velocity and methods managing these factors, and more studies for determining the meaningful values of pulse wave velocity, in larger cases are needed.

Background
: Recently, thermal therapy such as sauna and sweating room is popular as a health behavior. In patients with heart failure, sauna treatment improves hemodynamic data and clinical symptoms by restoring endothelial function. The purpose of this study was to investigate that sauna bath could decrease pulse wave velocity reflecting vascular function of people in the community.

Methods : A total of 43 volunteers (11 male, 32 female) older than 40 years old were kept in 60℃ dry sauna for 15 to 20 minutes. We measured the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), blood pressure, heart rate, body weight and body temperature before and, 30 and 60 minutes after sauna bath and assessed the differences of the means of these measurements with repeated measures of ANOVA. Then, we performed multiple regression analysis to find out the factors independently associated with the amount of baPWV change.

Results : The BaPWV and systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly 30 and 60 minutes after sauna bath comparing to those before (P＜0.001, P=0.003, P=0.011, respectively). Multiple regression analysis showed that baseline baPWV and history of hypercholesterolemia independently influenced on the amount of baPWV change (β=-0.47, P=0.002; β=-0.36, P=0.013, respectively).

Conclusion : We studied the acute reduction of pulse wave velocity after sauna bath in adults over 40 years old. This change was striking in the subjects with faster baseline baPWV. This result suggests that sauna bath can improve vascular function in the high risk group of cardiovascular diseases.

Background
: Arterial stiffness is a strong indicator of cardiovascular risk. Increased visceral fat confers greater risks of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationships between arterial stiffness and regional distribution of abdominal adiposity (i.e. subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue).

Methods : Thirty obese participants (M：F=17：13, mean age=53.6±12.0 years) underwent anthropometric measurements, laboratory procedures such as serum lipid levels and abdominal computed tomography scan. The aortofemoral pulse wave velocity was measured by foot to foot method using two continuous Doppler waves.

Results : Pulse wave velocity was positively associated with age, hip circumference (P＜0.01), visceral to subcutaneous abdominal fat ratio and body weight (P＜0.05), but independent of the total abdominal, visceral, and subcutanous fat. Although not positively associated, the mean pulse wave velocity tended to be higher in patients with history of hypertension or diabetes.

Conclusion : The site of abdominal fat distribution contribute to the prediction of arterial stiffness and visceral adiposity is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events.