Arterial stiffness is a significant determinant and evaluation of cardio-cerebrovascular disease and all-cause mortality risk in the stroke population. Estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) is a well-established indirect measure of arterial stiffness. We examined the association of ePWV with all-cause and cardio-cerebrovascular disease (CCD) mortality in the stroke population in a large sample of US adults.
The study design was a prospective cohort study with data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003 to 2014, between the ages of 18–85 years, with follow-up through December 31, 2019. 1,316 individuals with stroke among 58,759 participants were identified and ultimately, 879 stroke patients were included in the analysis. ePWV was calculated from a regression equation using age and mean blood pressure according to the following formula: ePWV = 9.587 − (0.402 × age) + [4.560 × 0.001 × (age2)] − [2.621 × 0.00001 × (age2) × MBP] + (3.176 × 0.001 × age × MBP) − (1.832 × 0.01 × MBP). Survey-weighted Cox regression models were used to assess the association between ePWV and all-cause and CCD mortality risk.
The high ePWV level group had a higher increased risk of all-cause mortality and CCD mortality compared to the low ePWV level group after fully adjusting for covariates. With an increase in ePWV of 1 m/s, the risk of all-cause and CCD mortality increased by 44%–57% and 47%–72% respectively. ePWV levels were linearly correlated with the risk of all-cause mortality (
ePWV is an independent risk factor for all-cause and CCD mortality in stroke patients. Higher levels of ePWV are associated with higher all-cause mortality and CCD mortality in stroke patients.