P125 Local Pulse Wave Velocity in the Arterial Tree: Site Matters!

Abstract

Background

Several so-called loop-based methods, have been proposed to estimate local pulse wave velocity (PWV). However, previous studies have demonstrated inaccuracies in local PWV-estimates due to presence of reflections, which led to the proposition of a frequency-domain correction method [1]. The aim of this study is to assess the accuracy of PWV-estimates from different loop methods throughout the human arterial tree.

Methods

The output data of a validated one-dimensional (1D) model of the human systemic circulation [2] was used to simulate the physiological signals needed on the estimations of local PWV methods, and this for model settings representing a young and an aged individual (stiffness increased by factor 2). Local PWV by the PU-loop, ln(D)U-loop, ln(D)P-loop, QA-loop and the frequency-domain (PWV1-5) methods, were compared against the reference value obtained from the Bramwell-Hill equation.

Results

Figure 1 shows the deviation (%) of loop-based estimates of PWV and PWV1-5 from the reference. The PU-loop overestimates PWV by more than 20% for most arterial sites, while the ln(D)U- and QA-loop underestimate to the same extent at these same locations. The correction method performs acceptably well in most of the young configuration. Discrepancies increase significantly in the aged model configuration for every studied method (except the ln(D)P-loop method).

Conclusion

The accuracy of loop-based methods is highly dependent on the location where they are applied, and results should be interpreted with great caution. Best results were obtained for the reflection- insensitive ln(D)P-loop method, but this method does not really provide an alternative for the Bramwell-Hill equation.