Augmentation index and pulse wave velocity as indicators of cardiovascular stiffness.

The authors examine the clinical significance of radial augmentation index (rAI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). In 78 hypertensive patients, rAI correlates inversely with pulse rate (PR; r = -0.57, P < .001), but baPWV does not. A weak correlation between rAI and systolic blood pressure (SBP) is observed (r = 0.28, P < .05). rAI has no significant correlation with diastolic blood pressure (DBP). In contrast, baPWV correlates positively with both SBP (r = 0.54, P < .001) and DBP (r = 0.43, P < .001). In 56 of these patients, baPWV correlates with the diastolic parameters-the mitral E/A ratio (r = -0.35, P < .01), pulmonary vein S/D ratio (r = 0.41, P < .01), and deceleration time (r = 0.28, P < .05)--by echocardiography, but AI.P75 (rAI corrected for PR 75 bpm because of PR dependence) does not. Therefore, for detection of diastolic dysfunction, baPWV may be more sensitive than rAI.