The impact of the aortic pulse wave velocity on the cardiovascular outcomes of hemodialysis patients.

The aims of our study were to identify the risk factors for an increased aortic pulse wave velocity (AoPWV) and to assess the impact of the AoPWV on the cerebro-cardiovascular (CV) outcomes of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Seventy two HD patients were included, and the AoPWV, the echocardiography and the biochemical parameters were measured. After dividing the patients into tertiles according to the AoPWV values, we defined the low, the middle and the high AoPWV groups. The patients in the high AoPWV group showed a significantly higher age and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level, a greater prevalence of diabetes and statin use, left ventricular hypertrophy, average pulse pressure (PP), AoPWV and left ventricular mass index and a lower serum albumin level than those in the low AoPWV group (P<0.05). On multivariate regression analysis of the AoPWV, age and the average PP were independently related to the AoPWV (p<0.05). On the multivariate Cox analysis for CV outcomes, the AoPWV and the average PP remained significant independent predictors of CV events. Our data suggest that an increased AoPWV is an independent predictor for the CV outcomes of HD patients.