All issues > Volume 50(6); 2007

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2007;50(6):549-555. Published online June 15, 2007.

Pulse wave velocity and ankle brachial index in normal adolescents

Ji Hye JH Kim¹, Tae Young TY Gil¹, Hee Woo HW Lee², Young Mi YM Hong¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea
²Seoul School Health Promotion Center, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Young Mi YM Hong ,Email: hongym@chollian.net

Abstract

Purpose
: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and ankle brachial index (ABI) are simple, non-invasive methods to assess arterial stiffness. These parameters are also known to be closely related to cardiovascular risk factors and diseases. The purposes of this study were to measure blood pressure, PWV, ABI in healthy Korean adolescents, set up their normal values and assess their correlations.
Methods
: Three hundred ninety two healthy adolescents (213 boys and 179 girls) underwent measurement of brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), ABI, body mass index(BMI) and blood pressure from four extremities. Linear regression analysis was performed to reveal the correlations between PWV, ABI and independent variables.
Results
: Blood pressure and PWV were significantly higher in all extremities in males compared to females. Blood pressure of both brachial and ankle showed positive correlation with body weight, height, and BMI, whereas ABI showed no correlation with any of these indices.
Conclusion
: Blood pressure increases as body weight, height and BMI increases. PWV shows positive correlation with blood pressure. It will be helpful to predict the risks of cardiovascular diseases in adolescents.

Keywords :Pulse wave, Arterial stiffness, Blood pressure