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. 2025 Jun 23;55(6):2198-2215.
doi: 10.1080/03036758.2025.2520388. eCollection 2025.

Estimating normal and reference pulse wave velocity in New Zealand population

Ekta Dahiya  1 , Andrew Lowe  1 , Rita Krishnamurthi  2 , Gautam Anand  1 , Anubha Kalra  1
Affiliations

Estimating normal and reference pulse wave velocity in New Zealand population

Ekta Dahiya et al. J R Soc N Z. .

Abstract

This study aimed to establish normal and reference pulse wave velocity (PWV) values and assess their relationship with the established cardiovascular risk factors in NZ. An observational cross-sectional study of 120 adults above 18 years was conducted at Auckland University of Technology within three age groups (18-30, 31-60, and >60 years) and four blood pressure (BP) categories (normal, elevated, stage 1 and stage 2) before being clustered as Normal Value Population (NVP) and Reference Value Population (RVP) based on BP and presence of other CVD risk. PWV was measured using Doppler ultrasound via the direct carotid-femoral method (distance × 0.8). Mean PWV for the whole study population was 5.88 ± 1.49 m/s and increased with age (p < 0.001) and with a more profound rise in the RVP group (p < 0.001, z = -4.98). Overall PWV values were lower than international reference standards, which may reflect population-specific physiological or methodological factors. A significant difference in mean PWV in the European and non-European populations (p = 0.004) indicated that ethnicity was an important part of the assessment. Age and mean blood pressure were the strongest predictors of PWV, accounting for 54.5% of the variability.

Keywords: New Zealand population; Pulse wave velocity (PWV); arterial stiffness; blood pressure; cardiovascular risk assessment.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Doppler ultrasound of the pulse wave at the common carotid artery.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Doppler ultrasound of the pulse wave at the common femoral artery.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Box plot distribution of the mean pulse wave velocity (PWV) in different age groups (***: p < 0.001 indicates a statistically significant difference of the respective age groups).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Mean pulse wave velocity (PWV) values according to the age and blood pressure (BP) categories.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Mean pulse wave velocity (PWV) and age linear regression model.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
A histogram of the regression standardised residual.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
A scatterplot of the regression standardised residuals and predicted mean pulse wave velocity (PWV) values.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Graphical representation of regression equations involving age and mean blood pressure (MBP), Regression equations from the studies with African (Magalhães et al. 2013 formula image) and European (Reusz et al. 2010 formula image) populations plotted against the present study (formula image) multivariate regression model.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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