Examination status of pulse wave velocity, carotid artery intima-media thickness and ankle-brachial index in hypertensive patients with increased pulse pressure

SUI Hui; MA Li-yuan; LIU Ming-bo; WANG Wen

doi:10.3969/j.1674-4055.2014.06.13

Abstract：Objective To get to know the examination status of pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid artery intima-media thickness (CA-IMT) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) in hypertensive patients with increased pulse pressure (≥50 mmHg).Methods A large-scale cross-sectional survey was carried out in 709 hospitals in 96 large, medium and small cities in North, South and West China from Apr. 2011 to Sept. 2012. The patients (n=36259) were chosen and divided into low risk group, mid-risk group, high risk group and greatly high risk group according to patients’ blood pressure level, risk factor quantity, target organ injury and cardiovascular diseases, and also divided into 3 stratifications (50-60 mmHg, 60-70 mmHg and ≥70 mmHg) according to pulse pressure. The medical history (cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, kidney diseases and diabetes) and smoking status were investigated, and PWV, CA-IMT and ABI were recorded. Blood pressure, height, weight and waistline were detected on the site.Results The examination rates of CA-IMT, PWV and ABI were, respectively, 20.7%, 8.8% and 7.8%, which was the patients without examinations of CA-IMT, PWV and ABI were, respectively, 79.3%, 91.2% and 92.2%. Further analysis showed that the relevance ratios of abnormal CA-IMT (≥0.9 mm and atheromatous plaque), PWV (>12 ms) and ABI (≤0.9) were, respectively, 65.7%, 40.9% and 47.4%. The relevance ratios of abnormal CA-IMT, PWV and ABI were, respectively, 86.8%, 68.5% and 22.9% in high risk group, and 66.1%, 40.2% and 48.2% in greatly high risk group. The relevance ratio of abnormal CA-IMT was, respectively, 39.3%, 66.6% and 80.7%, and that of abnormal PWV was, respectively, 24.6%, 43.0% and 59.0% in 50-60 mmHg stratification, 60-70 mmHg stratification and ≥70 mmHg stratification.Conclusion In Chinese cities, the examination rates of items related to vascular diseases are lower in hypertensive patients with increased pulse pressure (≥50 mmHg).