To investigate whether the aortic–brachial pulse wave velocity (PWV) ratio differs between stroke subtypes and whether it is independent of mean blood pressure (MBP) in ischemic stroke patients.
Approach:
Study Design: Measured carotid-radial (cr-PWV) and carotid-femoral PWV (cf-PWV) in 188 ischemic stroke subjects on day 6 of hospitalization.
Data Analysis: Calculated PWV ratio as cf-PWV/cr-PWV and analyzed associations with stroke subtype and MBP using uni- and multivariate models.
Key Findings:
41 patients (21.8%) had stroke related to large artery atherosclerosis (LAA).
PWV ratio was higher in LAA compared to non-LAA stroke (1.26 [1.09–1.58] vs. 1.10 [0.95–1.36], p < 0.01).
The association between PWV ratio and LAA remained significant after adjustment (OR = 3.40, 95%CI = 1.18–9.79, p = 0.02).
PWV ratio was not associated with MBP (p = 0.79).
Interpretation:
PWV ratio is elevated in LAA-related ischemic stroke and is not significantly associated with blood pressure.
Conclusion:
The study presents findings on the PWV ratio in ischemic stroke patients.
