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Analysis of the Effect of Ageing on Rising Edge Characteristics of the Photoplethysmogram using a Modified Windkessel Model

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Cardiovascular Engineering

Abstract

Ageing is one of the main contributing factors towards increasing arterial stiffness, leading to changes in peripheral pulses propagation. Therefore the characteristics of the photoplethysmogram (PPG) pulse, especially the rising edge and peak position, are greatly affected. In this study, the PPG pulse rising edge and corresponding peak position have been investigated non-invasively in human subjects as a function of age. Fifteen healthy subjects were selected and grouped in five age intervals, from 20 to 59 years, based on their comparable systolic-diastolic blood pressure and PPG amplitude. As expected, the peripheral pulse shows a steep rise and early peak in younger subjects. With age, the slope becomes blunted and in older subjects, the rise is very gradual and the pulse peak appears much later. Qualitative results were further verified by a modified 10-element Windkessel model to quantify the lumped parameter changes with ageing. This verification highlighted some specific changes in vascular parameters with aging. The rising edge could be considered as one parameter in determining the age-dependent vascular state.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, SHARIF University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Edmond Zahedi

  2. Faculty of Information Technology, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak, 16-5, Jalan SS6/12, 47301, Kelana Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

    Kalaivani Chellappan

  3. Department of Electrical, Electronics & Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia

    Mohd Alauddin Mohd Ali

  4. Department of Orthopaedics, International Medical University, Clinical School, Seremban, Malaysia

    Harwant Singh

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  1. Edmond Zahedi
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  2. Kalaivani Chellappan
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  3. Mohd Alauddin Mohd Ali
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  4. Harwant Singh
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Correspondence to Kalaivani Chellappan.

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Zahedi, E., Chellappan, K., Ali, M.A.M. et al. Analysis of the Effect of Ageing on Rising Edge Characteristics of the Photoplethysmogram using a Modified Windkessel Model. Cardiovasc Eng 7, 172–181 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10558-007-9037-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10558-007-9037-5

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