Assessment of association between ankle-brachial pressure index and pulse wave velocity in patients with isolated hypertension according to gender

Abstract

Aims: Endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis are well-known risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in hypertension (HT). This study investigated the relationship between ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in patients with isolated HT (IHT) and the difference according to gender. Methods: This single-center, cross-sectional, and observational study was carried out between November 2014 and May 2015 in the outpatient clinic of the Department of Internal Medicine of Gülhane Military Medical Academy. Results: The study included 90 patients with IHT (mean±SD age: 57.25±14.5 years, 63.3% female). No statistically significant difference was detected in ABPI (1.1±0.1 vs. 1.1±0.2, p=0.342) and PWV (10.9±2 vs. 10.5±1.9, p=0.341) measurements between male and female patients. In both sexes, SBP and DBP values correlated with CAP (Female: r=0.935, p<0.001; r=0.637, p<0.001, respectively. Male: r=0.944, p<0.001; r=0.749, p<0.001, respectively). SBP values correlated with ABPI among female patients (r=-0.277, p=0.037) but not among male patients. DBP did not correlate with ABPI in both sexes. No correlation was found between CAP and PWV in both sexes.