Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension
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Aortic pulse wave velocity, calculated from pulse transit time (PTT), is often used as an indicator of arterial stiffness and suggested to be standardized for heart rate (HR). This study aimed to determine whether PTT obtained directly from radial arterial waveforms could be used to assess arterial stiffness and the effect of HR on it. Measurements of anthropometric parameters, blood pressure (BP) and radial PTT were taken in 266 apparently healthy adults (113 men and 153 women; age 18-78 years). ⋯ There was no significant change in radial PTT when HR ranged from 60 to 75 b.p.m. A significant decrease was found in radial PTT when HR was up to 80 b.p.m. (P < 0.01). These findings indicate that the simple and easily obtainable radial PTT could be a useful index of arterial stiffness, and HR changes should be considered when it is up to 80 b.p.m.