Brachial-ankle PWV: Current status and future directions as a useful marker in the management of cardiovascular disease and/or cardiovascular risk factors

Since 2001,brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (brachial-ankle pwv) measurement has been applied for risk stratification of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and/or its risk factors in japan. measurement of the brachial-ankle pwv is simple and well standardized,and its reproducibility and accuracy are acceptable. several cross-sectional studies have demonstrated a significant correlation between the brachial-ankle pwv and known risk factors for cardiovascular disease; the correlation is stronger in subjects with cardiovascular disease than in those without cardiovascular disease. we conducted a meta-analysis,which demonstrated that the brachial-ankle pwv is an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events. furthermore,the treatment of cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle modifications have been shown to improve the brachial-ankle pwv. thus,at present,brachial-ankle pwv is close to being considered as a useful marker in the management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and/or its risk factors. © 2016,japan atherosclerosis society. all rights reserved.