Arterial Stiffness Assessment in Cardiovascular Health

Arterial stiffness denotes the loss of elasticity in large vessels, a hallmark of vascular ageing and an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. As arteries stiffen, their cushioning function declines, leading to higher systolic blood pressure, increased pulse pressure and greater left ventricular workload. Mechanical changes occur at multiple scales, from extracellular matrix crosslinking and vascular smooth muscle cell alterations to impaired endothelial mechanotransduction. Non-invasive measurement techniques have become central to clinical practice, offering insights into subclinical disease and the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) remains the reference standard, quantifying the speed of the pressure wave between two arterial sites. Augmentation index and derived central pressure metrics complement PWV by characterising wave reflection and central haemodynamics. Recent advances span population-based reference values, innovative wearable and flexible sensor platforms, and integrative physiological models that link routine vital signs to arterial properties. These developments promise earlier detection of vascular dysfunction, personalised risk stratification and real-time monitoring of destiffening therapies.

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Arterial Stiffness Assessment in Cardiovascular Health publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in arterial stiffness assessment in cardiovascular health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Arterial stiffness: The reduced ability of an artery to expand and recoil in response to pressure changes, reflecting structural and functional alterations in the vessel wall.

Pulse wave velocity (PWV): The speed at which the blood pressure pulse propagates between two arterial sites, used as a direct measure of arterial stiffness.

Augmentation index (AIx): A ratio expressing the contribution of reflected waves to central arterial pressure, indicating the degree of wave reflection and arterial load.

Vascular ageing: The progressive decline in arterial elasticity and endothelial function over time, influenced by genetic, metabolic and environmental factors.

References

1. Arterial Stiffness: From Basic Primers to Integrative Physiology. Annual Review of Physiology (2024).
2. Stroke-volume-allocation model enabling wearable sensors for vascular age and cardiovascular disease assessment. npj Flexible Electronics (2024).
3. Global distributions of age- and sex-related arterial stiffness: systematic review and meta-analysis of 167 studies with 509,743 participants. EBioMedicine (2023).