Assessments of Arterial Stiffness and Endothelial Function Using Pulse Wave Analysis

Figure 1

Aortic pulse pressure waveform. Systolic and diastolic pressures are the peak and trough of the waveform. Augmentation pressure is the additional pressure added to the forward wave by the reflected wave. Augmentation index is defined as the augmentation pressure as a percentage of pulse pressure. The dicrotic notch represents closure of the aortic valve and is used to calculate ejection duration. Time to reflection is calculated as the time at the onset of the ejected pulse waveform to the onset of the reflected wave.