Aging related changes in cardiovascular system in healthy female population: photoplethysmography method and DFA analysis

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Ministry of Science Technological Development and Innovation Background The cardiovascular system undergoes dynamic changes during the biological aging in humans, leading to chronic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Purpose Developing the novel method for non-invasive monitoring of age induced changes in arterial vessels. Methodology The pilot study was performed on 58 women, in good health, non-smokers, between the ages of 20 and 70, divided into three age groups. All subjects underwent arterial blood pressure measurement using a photoplethysmography sensor. Recordings were performed in left carotid artery and the left index finger area. Arterial blood flow waveform was then analyzed using DFA analysis, calculating the values of the scalar coefficients α1 and α2. Based on the waveform time interval shift between the standing and supine positions, the pulse wave velocity (PWV) ratio was determined. Results Systolic and diastolic arterial pressure showed a slight linear increase with the age, but without significant difference between the three age categories (p > 0.5). Also, the PWV ratio between the supine and standing positions did not show a statistically significant increase between the age groups. Only scalar coefficients ratio α1/α2 demonstrated a significant difference in value between all age categories. Conclusion In subjects included in this pilot study, only the scalar coefficients ratio varied significantly with the age, indicating the occurrence of structural changes in the cardiovascular system caused by biological aging.