4D FLOW MRI · PULSE WAVE VELOCITY
How does aortic pulse wave velocity change across adulthood? Harloff et al. investigated 4D flow CMR-derived aortic PWV in a population-based cohort spanning young through older adults.
This article summarizes an independent published study. It should not be interpreted as a strictly healthy, low-risk reference cohort: the participants were recruited from the general population and vascular risk factors may be present.
Why this study matters
The investigators measured thoracic aortic PWV and other aortic indices using cardiovascular MRI. They showed that PWV rose progressively with age and demonstrated a measurable association with sex. Their 3 T 4D flow acquisition provided three-directional blood velocity information in addition to the aortic stiffness estimate.
4D flow PWV by age and sex
Original visualization redrawn from Harloff et al. (2018), Table 3. Points are age-band mean ± SD (m/s), not individual participants or median values. Hover over a dot for the exact age-band value.
| Age (years) | Men, m/s | Women, m/s |
|---|---|---|
| 20–29 | 4.64 ± 0.49 (n=10) | 4.41 ± 0.39 (n=10) |
| 30–39 | 5.22 ± 0.50 (n=14) | 4.57 ± 0.67 (n=9) |
| 40–49 | 5.57 ± 0.63 (n=10) | 5.24 ± 0.66 (n=11) |
| 50–59 | 7.03 ± 0.84 (n=10) | 6.59 ± 0.70 (n=13) |
| 60–69 | 8.05 ± 0.57 (n=9) | 7.38 ± 0.95 (n=12) |
| 70–79 | 8.49 ± 1.09 (n=9) | 7.78 ± 0.93 (n=9) |
Age positions in the chart are display midpoints of the original study bands; no continuously sampled reference curve is implied.
What should we take away?
Age differences were substantial in this sample. PWV increased with age, reaching 8.49 ± 1.09 m/s in men and 7.78 ± 0.93 m/s in women in the 70–79-year band. The authors also proposed a linear age-and-sex regression model, but these observed group means remain the clearest starting point for comparing the study’s results.
Comparisons with carotid–femoral tonometry or regional 2D PC MRI values require caution. Acquisition region, transit-time extraction, reconstruction and path length all matter. A single threshold is unlikely to be transferable between modalities without validation.
Related reading
Interactive PWV reference atlas by age and measurement method · What CS acceleration does to PWV · Why interpolation changes PWV
Primary publication
Harloff A, Mirzaee H, Lodemann T, et al. Determination of aortic stiffness using 4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance: a population-based study. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson. 2018;20:43. doi:10.1186/s12968-018-0461-z.