Reference values for arterial stiffness indices in an Omani Arab population.

Objectives: To determine the reference values of arterial stiffness indices, particularly augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) using applanation tonometry in a healthy Omani Arab population.

Methods: This prospective study was carried out in the Department of Clinical Physiology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman over a 2-year period from June 2011 to June 2013. The central AIx, aortic PWV (AoPWV), and central pulse pressure (CPP) were recorded from 120 healthy subjects recruited randomly from a normal population using a SphygmoCor device. The 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles were used to determine the reference ranges for men and women separately. Analyses were performed using univariate statistics.

Results: The mean age of the cohort was 38 years for men, and 35 years for women, with the ages ranging from 20-53 years. The overall mean central AIx was 13±11%, and for AoPWV was 6.7±1.6 m/s. The central AIx was higher in women (17 versus 10%; p<0.001), whereas the AoPWV was higher in men (7.1 versus 6.3 m/s; p=0.003). Subjects were categorized according to the gender and age decade, and reference values for CPP, central AIx, and AoPWV were obtained.

Conclusion: This study reports the reference values for arterial stiffness indices from an Omani Arab population; the results of which should be interpreted in the context of its limitations.