[Atherosclerosis: which are the tools available for the practionner?]

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular medicine
• Vascular biology
• Diagnostic methods

Context:

• Atherosclerosis detection in asymptomatic individuals is crucial for cardiovascular risk stratification.
• Current advanced methods for atherosclerosis detection are often costly and complex.
• General practice requires simple, affordable diagnostic tools.

Purpose:

• To evaluate simple, inexpensive methods for identifying atherosclerosis in general practice.
• To highlight the role of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) as a marker for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular mortality.
• To discuss the potential integration of pulse wave velocity into routine vascular assessments.

Summary:

• The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a simple, cost-effective method for detecting peripheral artery disease, a manifestation of atherosclerosis.
• ABI serves not only as a marker of atherosclerosis but also as a strong predictor of cardiovascular mortality.
• Pulse wave velocity, a measure of arterial stiffness, is also a significant predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and may soon be used in general practice.

Impact:

• Enables improved cardiovascular risk stratification in asymptomatic subjects using accessible methods.
• Facilitates early identification of peripheral artery disease and associated cardiovascular risks.
• Paves the way for wider clinical adoption of non-invasive vascular assessments in primary care settings.