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Publications in Scientific Journals:

T. Weber, A. Haiden, B. Hametner, S. Wassertheurer, B. Eber:
"Aortic pulse wave velocity, measured invasively or estimated from radial waveforms, pedicts cardiovascular events";
Journal of Hypertension, 30 (2012), 69 - 70.



English abstract:
Background: The prognostic role of aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) is well known. Its noninvasive determination (carotid-femoral PWV) is inconvenient,and easier yet accurate methods could be of value to facilitate the adoption by clinicians.
Methods: We recently developed the ARCSolver method to estimate aortic
flow from pressure waveforms, acquired with radial tonometry. Characteristic impedance is derived from this, and finally aPWV, using Waterhammer equation. Travel distance is estimated from body height, using a previously validated formula. True aortic PWV can be measured invasively during catheter pullback. In this study, we tested the prognostic value of the estimated aPWV,in comparison with invasively measured aPWV, in 654 patients (mean age 63 years, 43% women, 73% hypertension, 19% diabetes, 41% coronary artery
disease) undergoing coronary angiography.
Results: Both methods for assessing aPWV showed moderate agreement
(R2 = 0.51, p < 0.0001). After a follow-up of 4 years, 116 patients
suffered from cardiovascular events (death, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary and peripheral revascularizations). In univariate analysis, an increase in aPWV of one standard deviation was associated with a 44.6 (CI 20.9-72.9)% (estimated aPWV) and 40.2 (CI 23.5-59.1)% (invasively measured aPWV) increased risk for cardiovascular events. In stepwise logistic regression models, including age, gender, presence of smoking, hypertension and diabetes, extent of coronary artery disease, systolic function,
systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and aPWV, both estimated (HR 1.58 per SD, p < 0.001) and invasively measured (HR 1.26 per SD, p = 0.01) aPWV showed a statistically significant association with cardiovascular events. Other independent predictors were extent of coronary artery disease, smoking, and hypertension.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that a simplified method to estimate aPWV can predict cardiovascular events in high-risk patients.

Created from the Publication Database of the Vienna University of Technology.