Arterial Stiffness Assessment: A Comparative Study between Hypertensive and Normotensive Subjects at the Urgences Cardio Clinic in Dakar, Senegal

Introduction: Arterial stiffness is a major marker of vascular aging and an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Hypertension, highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, plays a central role in the pathophysiology of arterial stiffness and target organ damage. However, data on arterial stiffness in West Africa, particularly in Senegal, remain scarce. This study aimed to assess arterial stiffness and compare pulse wave velocity between hypertensive and normotensive outpatients in Dakar. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, comparative, descriptive, and analytical study conducted at the Urgences Cardio Clinic in Dakar. Adult outpatients were consecutively included and divided into two groups according to blood pressure status (hypertensive versus normotensive). Sociodemographic and clinical data, as well as cardiovascular risk factors, were collected. Arterial stiffness was assessed using finger-to-toe pulse wave velocity (ftPWV) measured by photoplethysmography with the pOpmètre^？. Global cardiovascular risk was estimated using the Framingham risk score. Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors associated with increased arterial stiffness. Results: Arterial stiffness was higher in hypertensive patients compared with normotensive subjects. Finger-to-toe pulse wave velocity increased significantly with age, highlighting a positive correlation between vascular aging and arterial stiffness. Elevated blood pressure, higher pulse pressure, and the accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors were associated with higher ftPWV values. Moreover, patients with a higher global cardiovascular risk according to the Framingham score exhibited greater arterial stiffness. Multivariate analysis identified age, hypertensive status, and cardiovascular risk factor burden as the main determinants of increased arterial stiffness. Conclusion: Arterial stiffness is significantly greater in hypertensive subjects and is strongly influenced by age and cardiovascular risk factors in our population. Measurement of ftPWV using the pOpmètre^？, a simple and non-invasive method, appears to be a relevant tool for the early detection of vascular aging in resource-limited settings. Its integration into hypertension management could improve cardiovascular risk stratification in sub-Saharan Africa.