Johannsen, Anna C.

Pulse Decomposition Analysis (PDA) offers new insights into factors altering the arterial pressure pulse contour. PDA premise is that peripheral arterial pressure pulse envelope consists of distinct component pressure pulses, a left ventricular ejection and its reflections. Two PDA parameters appear to be particularly useful in quantifying the pulse contour. P2P1 is the ratio of second component pulse and primary ejection pulse amplitudes. T13 is the temporal delay between the third component pulse and the primary ejection pulse. P2P1 and T13 parameters were used to examine pressure pulse contour changes in 81 healthy subjects (18–27 yrs; BMI 27.5 ± 2.6) undergoing a Stroop mental stress test, cycle ergometer stress tests (3 min; 50W and 100W), and post‐exercise recovery. Digital pressure pulse contours were recorded/quantified using PDA formalism. Relative to baseline, P2P1 increased 8% post‐Stroop (individual variation 0% to 15%), T13 increased 4%, (individual variation 0% to 8%). Exercise decreased P2P1 21 ± 14%, while the T13 change was 19 ± 15%. PDA‐based pulse propagation model quantifies physical changes that arterial pulse reflection sites undergo. Peripheral arterial pressure pulse appears to be due to the primary ejection pulse and two major reflections. Two reflection sites in the central arteries appear to be responsible for the “reflected” wave part of the pulse contour.