The Relationship Between Effective Arterial Capacitance and Pulse Wave Velocity Is Dependent on Left Ventricular Stroke Volume

Background: increased arterial stiffness is a predictor of cardiovascular events. The stroke volume (SV) to pulse pressure (PP) ratio is an estimate of arterial capacitance. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a measure of arterial stiffness. This study evaluated the effect of left ventricular (LV) SV on the SV/PP—PWV relationship. Methods: 97 patients had applanation tonometry and echocardiography to measure arterial capacitance (SV/PP), PWV, and central aortic pressure. Results: 50 patients had normal SV and 47 had low SV. For all patients, PWV inversely correlated with SV/PP. PWV and SV/PP correlated more strongly in the normal SV group than in the low SV group. Aortic PP was significantly correlated with PWV in all patients, in the normal SV group, and in the low SV group. Conclusion: effective arterial capacitance correlates with PWV. The presence of decreased SV weakens the relationship.