Difference in the risk profiles of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity: results from two community-based studies in China and Sweden

Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and its risk factors may differ between various populations. Few studies have compared the risk profiles associated with cfPWV in different ethnic populations. The study population included 4321 subjects from Shanghai, China (n = 1272, age 75.0 ± 6.5 years, female 57.3%) and Malmo, Sweden (n = 3049, age 72.5 ± 5.5 years, female 60.4%). cfPWV was measured using the SphygmoCor device in both cohorts, with some difference in the determination of pulse transmission distance. The median cfPWV was 8.9 and 10.1 m/s (P < 0.001) respectively in the Chinese and Swedish subjects. cfPWV was associated (P < 0.05) with age, body mass index (BMI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, fasting plasma glucose and serum triglycerides in both populations. The standardized effect size (m/s) associated with age (0.091 vs. 0.048, P < 0.001) and fasting plasma glucose (0.025 vs. 0.012, P = 0.046) was greater in the Swedish than Chinese subjects, whereas those with BMI (0.046 vs. 0.008, P < 0.001), MAP (0.079 vs. 0.067, P = 0.016), and heart rate (0.057 vs. 0.046, P = 0.036) were greater in Chinese. No difference was observed in those associated with serum triglycerides (P = 0.128). cfPWV was additionally associated with sex, serum total cholesterol, and on antihypertensive medication in the Swedish subjects, and with serum uric acid in the Chinese subjects (P ≤ 0.041). In conclusion, Chinese and Swedish subjects shared similar major risk factors of arterial stiffness, but with some differences in the strength of associations.