Association between lower-extremity function and arterial compliance in older adults

The purpose was to identify the association between lower-extremity function and arterial compliance in older men and women. Participants included 46 healthy men (n = 18) and women (n = 28) 60 years of age or older. Lower-extremity functional performance was assessed by the summary performance score (SPS) that includes tests of 5 timed repeated chair rises, standing balance, and 4-meter walking velocity. Arterial compliance and arterial pressure were analyzed through pulsewave analysis. Small arterial compliance (3.74 +/- 2.14; mean +/- SD) was related (r = 0.34, P = .028) to SPS (11.09 +/- 1.19) after adjusting for body surface area, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Systolic blood pressure (138 +/- 14) also was related to SPS (r = -0.314, P = .040). These results suggest diminished lower-extremity function is associated with decreased small arterial compliance and elevated arterial pressure in older men and women.