OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical factors relating to arterial elastic function measured with pulse wave velocity (PWV), large and small arterial elastic indexes (C(1) and C(2)) and augmentation index (AI) in hypertensive patients.

METHODSA total of 2176 hypertensive patients were enrolled and divided into three groups: Elastic function was measured in 1100 subjects by (PWV), in 647 subjects by C(1) and C(2) and in 429 by AI.

RESULTSPWV was positively correlated with age, systolic pressure, pulse pressure and negatively correlated with body height and weights (all P < 0.05). C(1) and C(2) values were higher in male than that in female patients (P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with age, systolic pressure, pulse pressure and heart rate while positively correlated with body height, weight and body mass index. In hypercholesterolemia patients (n = 168), C(1) and C(2) were negatively correlated with serum cholesterol level (P < 0.05). AI value was higher in female than that in male patients (P < 0.01) and positively correlated with age, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, pulse pressure while negatively correlated with body height, weight and heart rate.

CONCLUSIONAge, systolic and pulse pressure as well as body height and weights are the main factors correlated to arterial elastic function measured by PWV, C(1) and C(2) and AI.