The influence of the digital pulse wave reference point on the pulse transit time measurement and variability

Abstract

By measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV) via an arterial route, one can determine the stiffness of the artery. The duration between the ECG R-wave climax and a reference point on the digital pulse wave (DPW) in the same cardiac cycle must be determined in order to determine the pulse transit time (PTT). The time it takes for a pulse wave to travel from the heart to a peripheral artery location is known as the PTT. To find out the best reference point on the DPW that is associated with the least beat-beat coefficient of variation (CV) of PWV. The study was carried out on 10 healthy young males aged 19 years. A two-minute recording of the left middle fingertip DPW signals (through piezoelectric Finger Pulse Transducer) and lead II ECG (through three surface electrodes) were carried out. PTT was calculated as follows: from the climax of the electrocardiogram R wave to the onset (foot) of the DPW (PTT1); from the apex to the onset points of the DPW at 10% of its amplitude (PTT2); and from the apex to the onset points of the DPW at 50% of its amplitude (PTT3). PTT1, PTT, and PTT3 were measured on each volunteer and on the same cardiac cycles.