Abstract
Background and aims
Aortic stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and thus simple, rapid and preferably automated techniques are indispensableto persue a global approach in risk statification. A novel oscillometric based carotido-femoral pulse-wave velocity (cfPWV) was investigated, regarding diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity and with emphasis on costs, training curves and procedural time effort.
Methods
In a single-center crossover study, we evaluated subjects free of known cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD subjects and a subgroup with peripheral artery disease (PAD) undergoing ankle-brachial index (ABI) and PWV measurements using oscillometry (BoSo, Bosch + Sohn, Germany) compared to tonometry (SphymoCor, Atcor Australia). Pearson's correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship of PWV measurements for both methods. Moreover, examination times and costs were compared.
Results
A total of 174 study subjects underwent assessment of oscillometric and tonometric PWV measurements. CVD-free subjects (n=57) were younger (60.4±15.6 vs. 67±12.9 years, p=0.003) compared to CVD subjects (n=117). PWV measurements showed significant correlations in CVD-free subjects (r=0.797, p<0.001), in CVD subjects (r=0.817, p<0.001) and the subgroup of PAD subjects (r=0.807, p<0.001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the oscillometric measurement for detecting arterial stiffness reached 93%, 84%, 86%, and 92%. The examination time of the oscillometric method was shorter compared to tonometry (4.4±0.5 vs. 9.2±0.8 min, p<0.001) in line with reduced costs.
Conclusion
Using a simple and rapid automated oscillometric method, we provide good diagnostic accuracy for the determination of aortic stiffness through PWV, both in CVD-free and in CVD subjects. This might help in terms of cost-effectiveness and simplification in daily practice to screen for cardiovascular morbidity and for vascular damage in atherosclerosis.
Comparison of Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) Measurement between a New Oscillometric Device (MESI ABPI Md®) and the Standard Doppler Method in the Diagnosis of Lower Extremity Arterial Disease (LEAD)
