In this study, the relationship between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) was examined in different age groups, and findings revealed that CVD risk due to increased arterial stiffness decreases with age.

• This study included 39,417 people with no history of CVD and atrial fibrillation who were grouped as <50, 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, and ≥80-year-old groups, and whole population, and each group was further divided into three classes based on the triple quartiles of baPWV.

• In the entire population, <50, 50–59, and 60–69-year-old groups, statistical significance in the cumulative incidence of CVD was indicated by Kaplan–Meier survival curve, while the cumulative incidence of endpoint events among the baPWV subgroups of 70–79 and ≥80-year-old groups showed no statistical significance.

• Relative to baPWV in the Q1 group, hazard ratio of CVD in the Q3 group was estimated to be 4.14, 2.98, 4.49, 2.78, 1.39, and 1.15 in whole population, <50-year-old group, 50–59-year-old group, 60–69-year-old group, 70–79-year-old group, and in ≥80-year-old group, respectively.