The study of vascular wall stiffness in patients with arterial hypertension depending on some factors of risk and associated clinical conditions

Aim. To study the effect of gender, age, duration of disease and different forms of ischemic heart disease on the stiffness of the vascular wall in patients with arterial hypertension by determining the propagation velocity of the pulse wave. Materials and methods. In order to study the propagation velocity of the pulse wave it was examined 369 patients with the method of volumetric sphygmography. In all patients was diagnosed arterial hypertension I-III stage, 1-3 degree, besides 47 patients were diagnosed with stable angina I-III functional class, 50 patients had a history of prior myocardial infarction. The investigation was held with the help of hardware complex "Poli-Spektr" made by Neirosoft firm (city Ivanovo) by the classical method of determining the propagation velocity of the pulse wave using synchronous registration sphygmograms of the carotid, radial and femoral arteries. Results. Patients with arterial hypertension had statistically higher velocity of pulse wave propagation for elastic-type vessels in comparison with healthy volunteers (9.48±0.18 и 7.28±0.64 cm/sec; р<0.05), and 80 people had velocity of pulse wave propagation more than 12 m/cek. In women with arterial hypertension in age till 60 years old in 81% were recorded normal values of pulse wave propagation velocity for elastic-type vessels compared to men at the same age among whom such values were registered in 35.9% cases (р<0.05). We revealed that velocity of pulse wave propagation for elastic-type vessels directly depends on age and pulse blood pressure level. With age velocity of pulse wave propagation for elastic-type vessels increases, besides grows the strength of the relationship between these indicators, however associated clinical conditions and disease duration does not affect on the strength of the relationship. Influence of the pulse blood pressure level manifests itself in patients that have arterial hypertension more than 10 years and has gender differences originating in women over 60 years. Conclusion. Vascular wall changes by increasing its rigidity in conditions of arterial hypertension significantly ahead of clinical manifestations and defines serious difficulties for early diagnosis and prognosis and requires a detailed approach to the patient taking into consideration all possible risk factors for the particular situation.

velocity of pulse wave propagation, stable angina, arterial hypertension