Arterial stiffness in health and disease

Abstract

The incidence of cardiovascular (CV) diseases is increasing worldwide raising the urgency for early detection of the underlying pathological processes. Early identification of risk factors is important to avoid hospitalization and to reduce CV morbidity and mortality rates. Cardiovascular risk can be assessed by history taking (age, gender, smoking habits), clinical examination (body mass index, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure (BP), temperature and pulse oximetry), laboratory analysis (cholesterol, glucose, triglycerides, potassium, sodium) and with novel techniques like pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index. Pulse wave velocity is an emerging technique used for CV risk stratification, assessment of arterial stiffness and follow the efficiency of the therapeutic intervention. Pulse wave velocity proved to have independent predictive value when evaluated in conjunction with standard risk factors for CV diseases. However, the field of arterial stiffness research, which evolutes over the past 20 years, lacks guidance for research investigators. This review summarizes the mechanisms of arterial stiffness, various methodologies to assess arterial stiffness and the latest scientific statements regarding its clinical applications.