Artery Research

Volume 6, Issue 4, December 2012, Pages 150 - 150

5.6 PULSE PRESSURE AND AGE

Authors
N. Westerhof1, B.E. Westerhof2, 3
1Department of Pulmonary Diseases, ICaR-VU, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2BMEYE, Amsterdam, Netherlands
3Heart Failure Research Center, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Available Online 17 November 2012.
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2012.09.036How to use a DOI?
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

We investigated individual and combined effects of increased aortic stiffness and resistance on (pulse, PP) pressure with aging. Wave travel and reflection determine the contribution of the arterial system to pressure wave shape and magnitude. Reflections occur at all branch points, and these local reflections cause amplification (distal pressure equal forward plus backward pressure). We used an anatomically accurate model of the human systemic arterial tree in this analysis. We found that ascending aorta pressure wave shape and Reflection Magnitude (PPforw/(PPbackw+PPforw)) are not changed with changes in peripheral resistance. This suggests that pressure wave shape depends on multiple local reflections, i.e., large artery (aortic) geometry and stiffness. Mean pressure depends on resistance only. Over the physiologic range changes in geometry have little effect, but stiffness does. Using aortic PWV and area as function of age (20–80 years, PWV 4–10m/s) we calculated aortic stiffness. For constant resistance systolic pressure increased and diastolic pressure decreased with age (stiffness). An increase in peripheral resistance of 20% and decrease in CO of 5% between 20 and 80 yrs, increased both systolic and diastolic pressures but left PP unaltered. Both effects together let systolic and mean pressure increase (106–161 and 93–108mmHg, resp.) and diastolic pressure decrease (81–71mmHg).

We conclude that increased pulse pressure results from increased aortic stiffening not from increased vascular resistance. Increased mean pressure results from increased resistance. Both effects together causes increased systolic pressure and may cause a decrease in diastolic pressure, depending on the resistance change.

Journal
Artery Research
Volume-Issue
6 - 4
Pages
150 - 150
Publication Date
2012/11/17
ISSN (Online)
1876-4401
ISSN (Print)
1872-9312
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2012.09.036How to use a DOI?
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

TY  - JOUR
AU  - N. Westerhof
AU  - B.E. Westerhof
PY  - 2012
DA  - 2012/11/17
TI  - 5.6 PULSE PRESSURE AND AGE
JO  - Artery Research
SP  - 150
EP  - 150
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
SN  - 1876-4401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2012.09.036
DO  - 10.1016/j.artres.2012.09.036
ID  - Westerhof2012
ER  -