PULSE wave velocity (PWV) is more strongly associated with ageing than short-term blood pressure variability (BPV), highlighting its potential as a key indicator of vascular ageing. Blood pressure variability and arterial stiffness both increase with age, but their relative contributions to cardiovascular risk remain unclear. A study aimed to compare the associations between age and short-term BPV and PWV within the same population, providing a clearer understanding of how these metrics change over time.
A total of 649 participants were included, with 508 aged under 60 years and 141 aged 60 or over. Blood pressure was measured using standard oscillometric techniques, and arterial stiffness was assessed using brachial PWV (br-PWV). Participants also underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) to determine systolic BPV (SBPV) and diastolic BPV (DBPV). The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and determination coefficient (R²) were used to assess the strength of associations between age and these parameters. PWV showed a very strong correlation with age (br-PWV; r=0.901; p<0.001), while the correlation was weaker for SBPV (24-hour weighted SD; r=0.492; p<0.001) and not significant for DBPV (24-hour weighted SD; r=0.220; p<0.001). In participants aged 60 or over, the association with PWV remained robust (br-PWV R²=0.812), while the correlation for SBPV was weaker (R²=0.243) and almost negligible for DBPV (R²=0.048).
These findings suggest that arterial stiffness, as measured by PWV, is a more reliable indicator of vascular ageing than short-term BPV. The strong correlation between age and PWV supports its use as a clinical marker for cardiovascular risk assessment in older adults. In contrast, BPV may have limited value in this context, particularly for diastolic measures. Clinicians should consider incorporating PWV assessment into routine cardiovascular evaluations, especially for patients over 60 years, to better identify individuals at higher risk of age-related vascular complications. Further research should explore how PWV-guided interventions could improve cardiovascular outcomes and whether long-term BPV plays a more significant role in disease progression than short-term fluctuations.
Jenna Lorge, EMJ
Reference
Vieira-da-Silva MA et al. The correlation between age, blood pressure variability and estimated pulse wave velocity. Sci Rep. 2025;DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-91023-x.
