The Journal for Nurse Practitioners
Volume 5, Issue 10 , Pages 745-751, November 2009

How Stiff Are Your Arteries? An Emerging Vital Sign for Determining Cardiovascular Disease Risk

  • Debra J. Barksdale

      Affiliations

    • Debra J. Barksdale, PhD, FNP-BC, ANP-BC, CNE, FAANP, is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a practicing primary care NP, and a NIH-funded researcher. Her program of research focuses on stress and cardiovascular disease, specifically hypertension.
    • ,
  • Jeongok G. Logan

      Affiliations

    • Jeongok Gang Logan, MSN, RN, is a nurse on a cardiothoracic step down unit and a PhD candidate at UNC-Chapel Hill. Her dissertation research is focused on stress, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and heart rate variability in Korean Americans.

Abstract 

Arterial stiffness is an indicator of cardiovascular risk and disease. This paper discusses the pathophysiology and specific measures of arterial stiffness (augmentation index and pulse wave velocity) and methods for determining arterial stiffness, including applanation tonography, pulse pressure, Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness Index, impedance cardiography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging. As issues related to the utility of arterial stiffness in clinical practice (eg, standardization and validation) are resolved through research, primary care providers should recognize this emerging “vital sign” as an important cardiovascular assessment tool for their patients.

Keywords:  arterial stiffness , cardiovascular risk , hypertension , pulse wave analysis , pulse wave velocity

 

 In compliance with national ethical guidelines, the authors report no relationships with business or industry that would pose a conflict of interest.

PII: S1555-4155(09)00475-9

doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2009.08.018

The Journal for Nurse Practitioners
Volume 5, Issue 10 , Pages 745-751, November 2009

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