Dynamic pulse wave velocity response to hydrostatic blood pressure gradient: a pressure-independent marker of vascular aging?

Vascular aging refers to the age-related deterioration in vascular structure and function and is accelerated in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. The growing interest in the clinical measurement of vascular aging has come about due to the repeated demonstration that arterial stiffness (one of the most robust and promising markers of vascular aging) has predictive value for cardiovascular events, beyond traditional cardiovascular risk factors.