Background: Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), a direct measure of aortic stiffness, has become increasingly important for total cardiovascular risk estimation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the correlation of PWV among the other cardiovascular risk factors with significance of the angiographically proved coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: The group of 66 patients referred for scheduled coronary angiography at Paul Stradins Clinical University Hospital Latvian Centre of Cardiology was analyzed. The mean age of patients was 62.1±11.7 years, 47% of them were male. The data about case history, cardiovascular risk factors, previous and concomitant therapy were collected. The applanation tonometry with Sphygmocor device, including radial pulse wave analysis (PWA), carotid PWA, carotid-femoral PWV, was done. Coronary angiography was done for determination of presence and degree of coronary artery stenosis (CAS). The CAS of ≥ 50% was defined as significant.

Results: PWV was significantly higher in the patients with significant CAS (12.7±2.8 m/s vs. 11.0±2.2 m/s, p=0.013). In binary logistic regression model, including age, gender, smoking habit, presence of arterial hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, PWV, aortal augmentation, central augmentation index, only PWV correlated significantly with presence of significant CAS with odds ratio 1.30 (p=0.022). After adjustment for statins, ß-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and nitrates PWV still correlated significantly with presence of significant CAS with odds ratio 1.33 (p=0.024).

Conclusions. Increased aortic PWV correlates significantly with the presence of significant CAS and may be important integrative marker for CAD.