The Importance of Arterial Stiffness Parameters for Predicting Syntax Score in Acute Coronary Syndrome

Numerous studies have demonstrated a connection between heightened arterial stiffness (AS) and cardiovascular disease. Over time, several techniques have been devised to gauge arterial stiffness.

This study aims to investigate the correlation between AS, measured using the PWV method on the arm, and the SYNTAX (Synergy between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) score derived from coronary angiography (CAG).

The cohort comprised 53 patients (51.0%) diagnosed with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and 51 patients (49.0%) diagnosed with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), all aged between 18 and 80 years. Using the 'Mobil-O-Graph® ARCsolver algorithm' device, we measured parameters such as PWV, augmentation index (AIx), and arterial blood pressure for all participants. The SYNTAX score was employed to gauge the severity and extent of coronary artery disease.

The patients' average age stood at 61.36 years, with 61 (60.6%) being male and 43 (39.4%) female. The mean BMI was recorded at 28.43 kg/m². Upon comparing the patient groups based on PWV measurements, intriguing insights emerged. Specifically, within the NSTEMI group, a noteworthy positive correlation emerged between PWV and key factors such as age, RDW (Red Cell Distribution Width), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, and SYNTAX score (p<0.05).

The elevation of PWV levels proved to be notably valuable in anticipating the severity of coronary artery disease in NSTEMI patients. Conversely, in STEMI patients, heightened PWV emerged as a predictor of an unfavorable prognosis, aligned with higher clinical risk scores.