A comparison of three different methods to determine arterial compliance in the elderly: the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study

Background Several different techniques to evaluate arterial compliance have been described but have not been simultaneously tested in a large-scale, population-based setting. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and relation to cardiac risk of three of these techniques in the Prospective Study of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study. Methods and results In the population-based PIVUS study (1016 participants aged 70), assessment of arterial distensibility by ultrasound in the carotid artery, by pulse wave analysis (augmentation index) and the stroke volume to pulse pressure ratio by echocardiography were successfully employed in 86, 92, 91 and 77% of the sample, respectively. All three indices of arterial compliance were inter-related (r = 0.19-0.34, P < 0.0001 for all). Although all three indices were significantly related to the Framingham risk score (r = 0.12-0.32, P = 0.0005-0.0001), only carotid artery distensibility and the stroke volume to pulse pressure ratio were independently associated with the Framingham score in multiple regression analysis (P < 0.0001 for both). Conclusions All three indices to evaluate arterial compliance were feasible to obtain in a general elderly population and were inter-related. Although all of the techniques were correlated to Framingham risk score, only carotid artery distensibility and the stroke volume to pulse pressure ratio were independently related to coronary risk, suggesting complementary use of these two indices of arterial compliance in the future.