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Measurement of arterial distensibility and compliance to assess prognosis

Brian A Haluska1, Leanne Jeffries, Stephane Carlier

  • 1University of Queensland School of Medicine, Brisbane, Australia. b.haluska@uq.edu.au

Atherosclerosis
|November 10, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Arterial stiffness measures, including distensibility coefficient (DC) and total arterial compliance (TAC), predict cardiovascular events in primary prevention patients. DC predicts mortality, while TAC predicts combined fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, adding value to risk scores.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular physiology
  • Vascular biology
  • Biomedical engineering

Background:

  • Total arterial compliance (TAC) and distensibility coefficient (DC) assess systemic and local arterial function, respectively.
  • Few studies have investigated the prognostic value of TAC and DC in primary prevention cohorts.
  • Cardiovascular risk stratification often relies on factors like the Framingham risk score.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if DC or TAC predicts cardiovascular outcomes in a primary prevention cohort.
  • To assess the incremental predictive value of arterial function measures beyond traditional risk factors.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 719 primary prevention patients (age 55±11 years) with varying cardiovascular risk was studied.
  • TAC was measured using applanation tonometry, echocardiography, and Doppler.
  • DC was derived from common carotid artery measurements and pulse pressure; Framingham 10-year risk was calculated.

Main Results:

  • Over 57 months, 42 deaths and 114 cardiovascular admissions occurred.
  • Independent predictors of mortality were Framingham risk score and DC (not TAC).
  • Independent predictors of a composite outcome (death or cardiovascular admission) were Framingham risk score and TAC (not DC).

Conclusions:

  • Arterial function measurements (DC and TAC) are independently correlated with cardiovascular outcomes.
  • DC predicts mortality, while TAC predicts a composite of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events.
  • TAC and DC provide incremental prognostic information for intermediate-risk patients when added to Framingham risk scores.
Abstract

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