Imagine you’re at the beach, and you throw a stone into a calm lake. The waves created by the stone spread out across the water, right? Well, your heart creates a similar “wave” every time it beats, but instead of water, it’s a “pressure wave” that travels through your arteries. This is what we call Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV).
This parameter recognized as the primary factor for assessing arterial stiffness, serves as a potential indicator for early detection of atherosclerosis. Therefore, What is pulse wave velocity? It’s the speed at which the pressure wave, initiated by ventricular contraction, travels through the arteries.
When arteries are healthy and flexible, they can easily expand and contract with each heartbeat, helping blood flow smoothly. But when arteries become stiff, they can’t expand as much, so they push back harder against the blood. This extra resistance makes the pressure wave from each heartbeat (called the pulse wave) travel faster through stiff arteries than it would through flexible ones.
Pulse wave velocity (PWV) measures how fast the pressure wave moves through your arteries. When arteries are stiff, the wave moves faster. A higher PWV can be a sign of less flexible arteries, which may indicate heart or blood vessel problems.
Pulse Wave Velocity Normal Range
As previously described, PWV serves as the premier method for quantifying arterial stiffness. Consequently, awareness of the normal range for PWV could assist physicians in initiating early interventions for lowering levels of arterial stiffness. PWV values depend on both the method used and the device.
In 2007, the ESH/ESC hypertension guidelines established a threshold of 12 m/s for carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity. However, this threshold was subsequently revised to 10 m/s in 2013 and 2024. Various research studies have found that aortic PWV, rather than carotid-femoral PWV, serves as a strong predictor of future cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Consequently, knowing the normal range of aortic PWV for each individual plays a significant role in the management of hypertension.
Pulse Wave Velocity By Age
Just like how your skin gets a little wrinkled as you get older, your arteries can become less flexible too. Based on the 2009 study by Benczúr et al, which included over 17,000 subjects, arterial stiffness measurements were performed using the Arteriograph, recognized as a gold standard device. The table below illustrates the normal range for PWV in different age groups:.
| Age category (years) | Median aoPWV (m/s) |
| 2 – 12 | 5.44 |
| 12 – 22 | 6.08 |
| 22 – 32 | 6.69 |
| 32 – 42 | 7.29 |
| 42 – 52 | 8.38 |
| 52 – 62 | 9.81 |
| 62 – 72 | 10.15 |
| 72 – 82 | 10.41 |
| 82 – 92 | 11.02 |
It should be noted that according to this study, these normal PWV values belong to subjects with optimal or normal blood pressure values and no additional cardiovascular risk factors.
Why Is PWV Considered Important?
For every 1 meter per second increase in Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), the chance of having future cardiovascular events goes up by 15%. This shows how important it is to keep track of PWV, as it can help find early signs of cardiovascular diseases. By regularly measuring PWV, doctors can spot issues early and take action before they get worse. This is like checking the brakes on a car before they fail—catching small problems early can prevent bigger issues later. Monitoring PWV can help protect against heart disease and lead to better health in the long run [1].
Pulse Wave Velocity Calculation
PWV is calculated by measuring the time difference between two pulses (The direct pulse wave and the reflected pulse wave), known as return time and aorta length.
When the heart pumps blood into the aorta with each beat, it creates a wave of pressure called the direct pulse wave. This wave travels down the aorta, which is the main artery carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body. As this wave moves through the aorta, it eventually reaches points where the arteries split into smaller branches. At these points, known as bifurcations, part of the wave bounces back toward the heart. This returning wave is called the reflected pulse wave.
By studying the speed, shape, and strength of the reflected pulse wave, we can learn important details about the aorta’s flexibility, or elasticity. For example, if the aorta is stiff, the wave travels and reflects differently than it would in a flexible, healthy aorta.
The length of the aorta for measuring Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity is defined as the distance (S) between the Jugulum (Jug) and the symphysis (Sy).
Pulse Wave Velocity Formula
As the previous section mentioned, the PWV is based on two main parameters: how long it takes the pressure wave to travel through the main artery (called the aorta), and how long the aorta is.
PWV = S (Jug-Sy)/(RT/2)
Let’s break it down:
- S (Jug-Sy): This part of the formula refers to the distance the pulse wave travels in the artery (Length of Aorta).
- RT/2: This represents the time it takes for the pressure wave to travel in Aorta.
Basically, PWV is calculated by looking at how far the pulse travels and how long it takes to get there. If the pressure wave moves quickly, it means the arteries are stiffer. If it moves slowly, the arteries are more flexible.
Pulse Wave Velocity Measurement & Arteriograph
The Arteriograph is the preferred device for measuring aortic pulse wave velocity, a critical parameter for assessing cardiovascular health. Its accuracy has been validated through comparisons with invasive methods, and leading research institutes have endorsed it as the most reliable product available. In addition to measuring PWV, the Arteriograph is capable of assessing pulse wave analysis parameters, including central blood pressure and the augmentation index.
Performing Pulse Wave Velocity measurement with the Arteriograph is very simple and is chosen as the best and most convenient method with the highest accuracy. The operator has minimal effect on the measurement as it is fully automatic.
Contact us to get answers to any questions you may have or to get a quote for the Arteriograph set.