# Pulse wave velocity (PWV)

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) measures how fast the pressure wave from each heartbeat travels along your arteries. It is the non-invasive gold standard for arterial stiffness. The most validated version is carotid-femoral PWV (cf-PWV), measured over the aorta with tonometry or cuff-based devices. The European Society of Hypertension flags a cf-PWV above 10 m/s (in people with high blood pressure) as pathological aortic stiffness. What makes arteries stiff? The wall's makeup, cross-linking of its structural proteins, elastin fragmentation, and smooth-muscle tone all play a part. Stiffness rises with age, and faster with high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney disease. Big prospective studies show cf-PWV independently predicts heart events and death, beyond the usual risk factors, even in people without known heart disease.

## Sources

- Blacher J, Asmar R, Djane S, London GM, Safar ME. (1999). Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity as a Marker of Cardiovascular Risk in Hypertensive Patients. Hypertension. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.HYP.33.5.1111
- Sutton-Tyrrell K, Najjar SS, Boudreau RM, et al.. (2005). Elevated Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity, a Marker of Arterial Stiffness, Predicts Cardiovascular Events in Well-Functioning Older Adults. Circulation. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.104.483628

---

_Canonical: https://longevity-switzerland.com/en/glossary/pulse-wave-velocity · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-06-22_