The Relationship Between Carotid–Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity, Pulse Pressure, and Carotid Intima–Media Thickness in the Patients With Hypertension

Background To investigate the relationships between pulse pressure, carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT), and carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) in patients with hypertension. Methods A total of 469 patients with hypertension and 274 subjects with normal blood pressure were enrolled and subdivided based on their cfPWV (≥ or <10 m/s), CIMT (≥ or <1 mm), and age (≥ or <65 years old). Blood pressure was measured in all subjects and pulse pressure was calculated. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the influencing factors of cfPWV. Results cfPWV, pulse pressure, and CIMT in patients with hypertension were higher than those in patients with normal blood pressure (9.56 ± 1.93 vs. 8.46 ± 1.47 m/s, 58.6 ± 13.5 vs. 49.2 ± 10.3 mm Hg, 0.93 ± 0.18 vs. 0.82±0.17 mm, all P < 0.05). In patients with hypertension, pulse pressure and CIMT in the increased cfPWV group were significantly higher than those in the normal cfPWV group (all P < 0.05), and cfPWV and pulse pressure were significantly higher in the elderly than the younger age group (all P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression stepwise analysis showed that pulse pressure, age, heart rate, gender, and fasting blood glucose were the influencing factors of cfPWV in all subjects (all P < 0.05), and stratified analysis showed that pulse pressure was the influencing factor of cfPWV regardless of age and gender. CIMT was an influential factor of cfPWV in the younger age group (<65 years old), but not in elderly patients (≥65 years old). Conclusions Pulse pressure is an important influencing factor of cfPWV in patients with hypertension, and CIMT is associated with cfPWV in hypertensive patients less than 65 years old.