Association Between Pulsed-Wave Velocity and Coronary Artery Calcification in the Iranian Population

Background: Albeit coronary artery angiography is the gold standard of the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD), coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a less invasive diagnostic method. We evaluated pulsed-wave velocity (PWV) as another accessible diagnostic tool to detect early CAD in the Iranian population. Methods: From March 2016 to March 2017, we enrolled 350 patients referred for an evaluation of CAD to Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical, and Research Center (Tehran, Iran). The patients underwent coronary artery computed tomography angiography, and their CAC scores were measured simultaneously. The PWV index was defined as the distance between the brachial and dorsalis pedis arteries divided by time, and the correlations between the PWV index and the CAC score and known CAD risk factors were assessed. Results: From 350 patients, 52.3% were men and the rest were women. The mean PWV was 8.7 ± 2.2 m/s and the mean CAC score was 251 ± 99.52. There was no significant relationship between the CAC score and the PWV index (P = 0.16). In the women, the CAC score and the PWV index were meaningfully higher (P ≤ 0.001 and P < 0.04, respectively). The CAC score was significantly different between the patients with and without CAD (P <0.001), whereas there was no difference concerning the PWV index (P = 0.31). Among all CAD risk factors, hypertension and diabetes mellitus were significantly correlated with the CAC score (P = 0.001 and P = 0.015, correspondingly) and the PWV index (P = 0.001 and P = 0.009, respectively). Conclusions: In contrast to some recent studies that have shown a significant increase in the PWV index in relation to the CAC score, our results did not prove it. The PWV index, thus, needs further studies if it is to be fully utilized in clinical practice.