| This study describes the distribution and determinants of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) (n = 619) and the aortic augmentation index (AI) (n = 319) in a large sample (n = 659) of men and women aged 70--96. Mean PWV (891 cm/sec, range 366--2481) did not differ by race or sex, and was positively associated with age, SBP, MAP and PP, heart rate, waist circumference, truncal fat, fasting insulin, 2-hour glucose, CRP, CCA IMT, CCA diameter, but not with AI. For men, PWV was inversely related to the ankle-arm index and LV diastolic dimension. For women, PWV was positively associated with coronary and aortic calcification, left atrial dimension, and late Doppler mitral peak flow velocity (DMPFV). These associations were generally independent of age and SBP. For men and women, the strongest predictors of PWV were age, SBP and heart rate, with fasting glucose in men, and waist circumference and CCA IMT in women.;Mean AI (35%, range 1--63%) was higher in women but not different by race. For men, AI was positively associated with SBP, MAP and PP, and inversely associated with height and heart rate. For women, AI was positively correlated with HDL and with concurrent SBP and PP, and inversely correlated with heart rate, BMI, fasting insulin, triglycerides and CCA IMT. Adjusting for heart rate and SBP did not affect these results. AI was positively associated with M-mode LV mass (p = 0.06), early DMPFV, and CHF in men. |
