Novel Arterial Stiffness Indices Associated With Early Atherosclerosis

Objective:The clinical significance of detecting early atherosclerosis is now widely recognized.Measurement methods available at present are usually not suitable for use in primary care where rapid screening for a large population is needed.The Arterial Velocity-pulse Index(AVI)and Arterial Pressure-volume Index(API)are new noninvasive arterial stiffness indices that can be rapidly measured using an oscillometric device.The purpose of this study was to determine whether high AVI and API values are predictive of early atherosclerosis prior to the onset of obstructive coronary artery disease(CAD)and to explore the relationship between these two indexes and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.Materials and Methods:1.In the first part of the study,a total of 183 patients were enrolled and allocated to the CAD group(n=109),early atherosclerosis(AS)group(n=34)or an apparently healthy(non-AS)group(n=40)based on the results of angiographic examinations.Measurements for arterial blood pressure,AVI,API and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV)were collected.2.The second part of the study included 38 patients who underwent coronary angiography for suspected coronary artery disease and were diagnosed with varying degrees of plaque or stenosis in the coronary arteries.AVI and API values were measured before the cardiography and SYNTAX score was calculated on each patient.Results:1.Statistical analyses revealed that AVIs were significantly lower in the non-AS group than in the AS group and the CAD group.The inter-group differences in API were not statistically significant among the 3 patient groups.As a reference,baPWV was found to be statistically higher in the CAD group than in the non-AS group,whereas there was no significant difference between the CAD group and the AS group,or between the AS group and the non-AS group.The AVI and API were both significantly correlated with baPWV.2.The results of correlation analysis suggested that the SYNTAX score of 38 patients was significantly correlated with AVI and API.Conclusions:This study demonstrated that AVI was more sensitive than baPWV and API in indicating early atherosclerosis,although elevated AVI and baPWV were both predictive of CAD.Simultaneously,the significant correlation between SYNTAX score and AVI&API indicated the novel indices may be a harbinger of severity of coronary arteries.