Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a valid and well-documented predictor of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients. It is essential to adjust for potential confounders, and especially age and blood pressure (BP) modulate the level of PWV. Both systolic BP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) have been used when adjusting in statistical models. However, in recent years MAP has been favoured for BP adjustment.

The aim was to investigate if MAP was superiorly correlated to PWV compared to systolic BP in newly diagnosed untreated hypertension.

We included 126 newly diagnosed untreated hypertensive patients. Twenty-four hour ambulatory BP measurement was performed and PWV was measured using the SphygmoCor device.

The cohort consisted of 61 men and 73 women with an average age of 50 ± 12 years. The mean systolic BP was 146 ± 12 mmHg and the mean MAP was 108 ± 9 mmHg with no significant difference between genders. The median PWV was 8.4 m/s (range 5.3 to 16.8) with no gender difference.

In a linear regression model age was highly positively correlated with PWV (ß =.004, p<.001). In an age-adjusted model, MAP was positively correlated with PWV (ß=.004, p=.02) but systolic BP showed a higher positive correlation with PWV (ß=.003, p=.008).

PWV measurements must be corrected for BP levels as well as age. Adjusting for systolic BP may be superior to adjusting for MAP in newly diagnosed untreated hypertensive patients.