Effect of Age on Pulse Wave Velocity and "Aortic Ejection Time" in Healthy Men and in Men with Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Impedance plethysmograms were taken in 51 healthy men and 42 normotensive men with coronary heart disease from the aorta near the place of auscultation of the aortic valve and from the femoral artery in the femoral triangle recorded simultaneously with the 3 electrocardiographic standard leads. The aortic pulse wave velocity was determined from the time interval between the foot points of the aortic and femoral volume pulse, and the anatomic distance between the electrodes. It increases with age in normal subjects as well as in patients, but the values are significantly higher in the patients. These results are suggestive of accelerated degenerative changes in the aorta, probably due to atherosclerosis. The interval from the earliest detectable QRS deflection to the foot point of the aortic volume pulse ("aortic ejection time") becomes longer with age in the normal group. In patients with coronary artery disease, the prolongation is significantly larger for each of 3 age subgroups. The results suggest that ventricular ischemia affects ventricular isometric contraction.