ABSTRACT
Introduction: Impaired functional capacity and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) are predictors ofcardiovascular (CV) adverse outcomes in healthy individuals as well as in those with CV disease. However,interrelation between arterial PWV and functional capacity remain to be established. Hence, the aim of thepresent study was to assess the relationship between arterial PWV and functional capacity in young healthyindividuals.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on young healthy subjects (n=58) with ageranging between 17-24 years. The PWV from four regions was included for the study: brachial-ankle PWV,carotid-PWV/aortic PWV, heart-brachial PWV and heart-ankle PWV. Functional capacity was evaluatedusing a six-minute walk test (6MWT). Relationship between variables were assessed using bivariatecorrelations and multiple linear regression analysis.Results: Walking-distance was significantly correlated with age (r=0.334; p=0.010) and aortic-PWV(r=-0.259; p=0.049). Aortic PWV was robustly associated with 6MWD even after multiple adjustments withpotential confounders using several models.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that aortic-PWV is an independent predictor of functional capacity inyoung healthy individuals. There was an inverse association of aortic-PWV with walking-distance, suggestingthat higher the aortic PWV, lower is the functional capacity.