Kivonat:
To estimate the value of pulse wave velocity (PWV) in pediatric
cardiovascular disease, prospective studies are needed. Various
instruments based on different measurement principles are
proposed for use in children, hence the need to test the
comparability of these devices in this younger population. The
objective of this study was to compare PWV measured by
oscillometry (Vicorder (VIC)) with the gold standard of
applanation tonometry (PulsePen (PP), Sphygmocor (SC)). PWV was
measured in 98 children and young adults (age: 16.7(6.3-26.6)
years (median(range)) with the above three devices at the same
visit under standardized conditions. Mean PWV measured by VIC
was significantly lower than that measured by SC and PP. There
was no difference following path length correction of the VIC
measurement (using the distance between the jugular notch and
the center of the femoral cuff), (PP: 6.12(1.00), SC:
5.94(0.91), VIC: 6.14(0.75) m s(-1)). Velocities measured by the
three devices showed highly significant correlations. Bland-
Altman analysis revealed excellent concordance between all three
devices, however, there was a small but significant proportional
error in the VIC measurements showing a trend toward lower PWV
measured by VIC at higher PWV values. Our study provides data on
the three most frequently used instruments in pediatrics.
Following path length correction of the VIC, all three devices
provided comparable results. Thus, our work allows extrapolating
data between previously established normal PWV values for
children and forthcoming studies using these instruments to
assess children at long-term risk of cardiovascular disease. The
small proportional error of VIC needs additional technical
development to improve the accuracy of the
measurements.Hypertension Research advance online publication,
28 July 2011; doi:10.1038/hr.2011.103.
