Missing information in determining reference values of aortic pulse wave velocity in the elderly.

摘要

We have read the study by Alecu et al. [1] with special interest. It was surprising that the authors and reviewers overlooked the meta-analysis that was published in 'Journal of Hypertension, about 2 years ago by our group [2], in which an age-specific reference interval for pulse wave velocity (PWV) was constructed. Although the significant impact of aging on arterial distensibility (in particular central arteries [3]) was proposed as a normal vascular aging process [4-6], the process is also accelerated in conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and renal failure [7]. PWV is also exhibited diversely in different ethnic groups [8], although that mainly influences peripheral arteries [9]. Consequently, an age-specific reference value for PWV is still reliable in central arterial evaluation.