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Published on: May 3, 2018

Arterial ultrasonography and tonometry as adjuncts to cardiovascular risk stratification

Iftikhar J Kullo1, A Rauoof Malik

  • 1Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. kullo.iftikhar@mayo.edu

Journal of the American College of Cardiology
|April 3, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Identifying cardiovascular disease risk in asymptomatic individuals is crucial. Advanced arterial function tests can improve risk assessment for intermediate-risk patients, guiding preventive therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Vascular Biology
  • Preventive Cardiology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular events like myocardial infarction and stroke often occur unexpectedly in asymptomatic individuals.
  • Current risk assessment algorithms categorize individuals into high, intermediate, or low risk, but over a third of US adults fall into the intermediate category, complicating treatment decisions.
  • Refining risk stratification in the intermediate-risk group is essential for effective preventive therapy allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of arterial function and structure assessments in improving cardiovascular risk prediction.
  • To identify asymptomatic individuals who may benefit from more aggressive preventive therapies.
  • To explore the role of vascular ultrasonography and tonometry in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective studies were reviewed to assess the prognostic value of arterial function and structure measures.
  • Vascular ultrasonography and tonometry were identified as key testing modalities.
  • Analysis focused on incremental prognostic information provided by these tests beyond conventional risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Measures of arterial function and structure provide prognostic information that is incremental to conventional cardiovascular risk factors.
  • These tests can help identify asymptomatic individuals at higher risk within the intermediate-risk category.
  • Prospective studies demonstrate the value of these assessments in predicting cardiovascular events.

Conclusions:

  • Arterial function and structure testing can refine cardiovascular risk assessment, particularly in intermediate-risk individuals.
  • These modalities hold promise for identifying candidates for aggressive preventive therapies.
  • Standardization and quality control are necessary for integrating these tests into routine clinical practice.

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