Reference Values for the Arterial Pulse Wave in Chinese.

BACKGROUND Pulse wave analysis using the SphygmoCor system allows the estimation of central pulse pressure (PP) and peripheral and central augmentation indexes (AIxs). We studied the limits of normality of these measurements in Chinese. METHODS We computed limits of normality as the 95% confidence boundaries from regression models relating the arterial indexes to age. RESULTS The reference population included 924 subjects (50.7% men, mean age 40.7 years) without overt cardiovascular disease. Men, compared to women, had higher peripheral (43.3 vs. 41.7 mm Hg; P = 0.01) and central (32.9 vs. 30.9 mm Hg; P < 0.0001) PPs, but lower peripheral (69.0 vs. 74.2%; P < 0.0001) and central (16.6 vs. 21.0%; P < 0.0001) AIxs. All arterial measurements showed a curvilinear relation with age. Both before and after adjustment for confounding factors, peripheral and central PPs increased less (P ≤ 0.01) with age in men than in women, whereas the relation of peripheral and central AIxs with age was similar (P ≥ 0.13) in both sexes. In 40-year-old Chinese, approximate thresholds for peripheral and central PPs, peripheral and central AIxs were 58 mm Hg, 48 mm Hg, 105% and 45%, respectively. Considering the age range from 20 to 60 years, thresholds varied within ∼5 mm Hg, ∼10 mm Hg, ∼20%, and ∼15% of the aforementioned thresholds for peripheral and central PPs, peripheral and central AIxs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Pending further validation in prospective studies, our present study provides preliminary diagnostic thresholds for PP and AIxs in Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]