Pulse wave velocity

<p>Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is the <a href="/facts/Velocity/Q3o1LVDe">velocity</a> at which the <a href="/facts/Blood_pressure/VtqqSM2J">blood pressure</a> <a href="/facts/Pulse/Bg8EUcWL">pulse</a> propagates through the <a href="/facts/Circulatory_system/WXwudzzc">circulatory system</a>, usually an <a href="/facts/Artery/Y1Yj0jat">artery</a> or a combined length of arteries.  PWV is used clinically as a measure of <a href="/facts/Arterial_stiffness/GlSgeYzJ">arterial stiffness</a> and can be readily measured non-invasively in humans, with measurement of carotid to femoral PWV (cfPWV) being the recommended method. cfPWV is reproducible, and predicts future <a href="/facts/Cardiovascular_disease/HD420nMv">cardiovascular events</a> and all-cause <a href="/facts/Mortality_rate/s4gmxyFV">mortality</a> independent of conventional <a href="/facts/Circulatory_system/WXwudzzc">cardiovascular</a> risk factors. It has been recognized by the <a href="http://www.eshonline.org/">European Society of Hypertension</a> as an indicator of target organ damage and a useful additional test in the investigation of <a href="/facts/Hypertension/wlAvBfcf">hypertension</a>.
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Pulse wave velocity open-in-new

Pulse wave velocity