Central blood pressure and pulse wave velocity
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custo diagnostic news<br />
<strong>Central</strong> Blood Pressure & Pulse Wave Velocity<br />
custo med GmbH<br />
Maria-Merian-Straße 6<br />
85521 Ottobrunn<br />
Germany<br />
custo diagnostic<br />
Resting ECG Stress ECG Holter ECG ABPM Spiro Rehab<br />
Blood<br />
Glucose<br />
Phone: +49 - 89 - 710 980 0<br />
Fax: +49 - 89 - 710 981 0<br />
Email: peter.rumm@customed.de<br />
stefanie.peschl@customed.de<br />
Authors:<br />
Peter Rumm & Stefanie Peschl<br />
<strong>Central</strong> <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong><br />
with spot measurement <strong>and</strong> ABPM<br />
________________________________________________________________________<br />
Table of Contents<br />
Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................ 2<br />
Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 2<br />
Pulse <strong>wave</strong> <strong>and</strong> augmentation ............................................................................................................................. 3<br />
Pulse <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong> <strong>and</strong> central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> ................................................................................................... 3<br />
Vascular age ......................................................................................................................................................... 4<br />
Correlation between brachial <strong>and</strong> central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> ................................................................................... 4<br />
The validated analysing algorithm Antares .......................................................................................................... 5<br />
Diagnostic importance of central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> ................................................................................................. 5<br />
Implementation in custo diagnostic ..................................................................................................................... 6<br />
Screen 310 – the recorder for determining central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> ...................................................................... 6<br />
The software module central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> ....................................................................................................... 7<br />
The spot measurement (single measurement) ..................................................................................................... 7<br />
ABPM .................................................................................................................................................................... 8<br />
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................ 9<br />
Literature ............................................................................................................................................................ 10<br />
List of abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................... 11<br />
Table of figures ................................................................................................................................................... 11<br />
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Abstract<br />
Very early in the history of <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> measurement the focus was on the determination of central aortic<br />
<strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>. In particular later research shows that the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> is a decisive indicator in<br />
assessing the cardiovascular risk. In addition, this indicator is important for assessing with all certainty whether<br />
there is hypertension in a patient or if an anti-hypertensive treatment is efficient. The <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> software<br />
custo screen which integrates the analysing algorithm Antares (Red<strong>wave</strong> Medical GmbH) now enables to<br />
determine <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong> (PWV) by using the <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> recorder custo screen 310, both in a single<br />
<strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> measurement (spot measurement) <strong>and</strong> in ambulatory <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> monitoring (ABPM).<br />
Antares was clinically validated within a multi-centric study. Thus, the <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> analysis at custo med is<br />
complemented in medically adequate form, enabling the physician to assess the cardiovascular risk of a<br />
patient optimally <strong>and</strong> to comply with the recommendations of the current guideline of arterial hypertension.<br />
Thus, the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> can be exactly determined in the established <strong>and</strong> familiar brachial cuff<br />
measurement at the upper arm, in an approach that is familiar to clinicians, accepted by patients <strong>and</strong><br />
accessible as a wide-spread method. In other words: this modern <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> technology can meet the<br />
original purpose of the measurement of central aortic <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>, as it was intended more than 100 years<br />
ago.<br />
The PWV has an additional prognostic significance for cardiovascular events going beyond the classical<br />
cardiovascular risk factors. Although it is not possible to directly conclude from the diagnosis of increased<br />
arterial stiffness that there is atherosclerosis or a coronary heart disease, a PWV exceeding 10 m/s should<br />
nevertheless be considered as pathological. When choosing devices, it is important that a manufacturerindependent,<br />
st<strong>and</strong>ardized validation as well as an additive valence proved in epidemiologic <strong>and</strong> prognostic<br />
studies exist – which is the case for the <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> recorder custo screen 310 <strong>and</strong> the software module<br />
custo screen with Antares.<br />
Introduction<br />
The original purpose of determining brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> more than 100 years ago was the evaluation of<br />
central (aortic) <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>. In the original reports of Riva-Rocci from 1896 about the use of a cuff device for<br />
measuring <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>, the technology was described as measurement of <strong>pressure</strong> "[…] either in the aorta<br />
itself […]" or "[…] at a point quite close to the aorta […]" [1].<br />
It is therefore logical that today the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> gains in importance in relation to the established<br />
brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> measured at the arm [2]. Although the brachial measurement over 24h at the upper<br />
arm is still the gold st<strong>and</strong>ard for <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> measurement, it is clear in the meantime that health<br />
professionals should keep an eye on "[…] the whole <strong>pressure</strong> curve <strong>and</strong> not only on the two extreme values<br />
[…]" [3]. Today, the <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> curve is experiencing a renaissance thanks to modern <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> analysis.<br />
A high <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> is an important cardiovascular risk factor. However, it is also known that in humans with<br />
a comparable brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>, big differences may occur in the central systolic <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> – partly<br />
more than 30 mmHg [3]. Experience made in anti-hypertensive therapy has made clear that <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
lowering drugs may affect the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> differently than the brachial BP [4].<br />
If the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> of a patient is known, the following statements can be made:<br />
a validated cardiovascular risk biomarker exists [5]<br />
a significantly improved prediction of future cardiovascular events is possible, going beyond the<br />
validity of brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> <strong>and</strong> other cardiovascular risk factors [6]<br />
there is a higher diagnostic accuracy compared to brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
an improved patient management is possible, compared to the care that is exclusively oriented<br />
towards brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>.<br />
With the option "central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>" it is possible to complement the classical <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
measurement by this important parameter. Based on the current ESH recommendations [7], the module<br />
complements the software platform custo diagnostic in the field of <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> analysis <strong>and</strong> provides - in<br />
addition to highest measurement accuracy - a validated method without requiring additional examinations.<br />
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There are no changes in the classical measurement process of ABPM because the determination of central<br />
<strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> goes h<strong>and</strong> in h<strong>and</strong> with the determination of classical <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>.<br />
In the following sections, more details about the individual parameters such as <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong>, <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> vascular age are discussed.<br />
Pulse <strong>wave</strong> <strong>and</strong> augmentation<br />
The most important task of the aorta is to distribute <strong>blood</strong> from the heart to the body. To make sure that the<br />
<strong>blood</strong> does not only flow in the ejection phase but also in the relaxation phase of the heart, a large part of the<br />
energy produced by the heart muscle is saved in the<br />
elastic fibres of the aorta. Therefore, the aorta acts<br />
like a "second heart" passing the <strong>blood</strong> to the<br />
organs. This function of the aorta, the energy uptake<br />
in the ejection phase <strong>and</strong> energy transfer in the<br />
relaxation phase, is called Windkessel effect.<br />
As the arterial diameter decreases from the centre of<br />
the body to the peripheral part of the body, the<br />
<strong>pressure</strong> increases due to physical reasons. This is<br />
why the peripheral (brachial) systolic <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
is normally higher than the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>.<br />
The <strong>pressure</strong> progression in the large arteries<br />
strongly depend on age (s. Fig. 1). In young humans<br />
an amplification (increase of <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> due to<br />
the different arterial diameter) in the periphery <strong>and</strong><br />
therefore a big difference between central <strong>and</strong><br />
Figure 1: Blood <strong>pressure</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> in dependence of age [3] brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> can be normal. At<br />
higher ages, the increase of <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
amplitude is usually due to augmentation, which means the over-increase of the systolic <strong>pressure</strong> <strong>wave</strong> caused<br />
by the reflected part still during the ejection phase of the heart, while the diastolic aortic <strong>pressure</strong> decreases.<br />
With increasing arterial stiffness, the time until the reflected <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> arrives at the heart shortens <strong>and</strong> thus<br />
the systolic, aortic <strong>pressure</strong> increases. The conventional<br />
measurement at the arm artery targeting the brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> exclusively, overestimates the central<br />
<strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> in young humans with elastic vessels <strong>and</strong> underestimates it in elderly patients with arterial<br />
stiffness <strong>and</strong> atherosclerosis [8]. The only method for a non-invasive differentiation is the <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> analysis.<br />
Consequently, it is not possible to draw conclusions about the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> merely on the basis of<br />
the peripheral, brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>. The determination of <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong> in m/s (meter per second) is<br />
an important parameter of arterial elasticity <strong>and</strong> a predictor of cardiovascular events. The Munich-based<br />
physiologist Otto Frank described <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong> in dogs with 7 m/s for the first time in 1904. He kept an<br />
eye on the whole <strong>pressure</strong> curve as well. [3].<br />
Pulse <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong> <strong>and</strong> central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
The PWV specifies at which speed the <strong>pressure</strong> <strong>wave</strong> of <strong>blood</strong> moves in the arteries after a cardiac action.<br />
Arterial stiffness can be quantified with the PWV. With increasing stiffness of the aorta, the PWV becomes<br />
higher. The prognostic importance of PWV is widely proven. The central aortic <strong>pressure</strong> (central systolic<br />
<strong>pressure</strong>) is a more exact measure for the actual hemodynamic stress of the heart than the peripheral <strong>blood</strong><br />
<strong>pressure</strong>. Rising arterial stiffness inevitably leads to an increase of both PWV <strong>and</strong> central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> values.<br />
With stiffer vessels, the PWV is higher <strong>and</strong> there is more stress on the end organs, for the central aortic <strong>pressure</strong><br />
affects them directly. The <strong>blood</strong> flow changes with increasing arterial stiffness, with the originally laminar,<br />
consistent vascular <strong>blood</strong> circulation changing to a pulsatile flow. This means stress for the susceptible organs<br />
which highly depend on a laminar microcirculation. These are in particular the heart, the brain, the kidneys <strong>and</strong><br />
the eyes. This is why hypertensive organ damages correlate better with the central than with the brachial <strong>blood</strong><br />
<strong>pressure</strong> [9].<br />
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Beside other cardiovascular risk factors, the PWV provides additional significant information about<br />
cardiovascular events. An increase of PWV by 1 m/s is associated with an increase of the cardiovascular risk by<br />
up to 15 %. It is a direct measure for arterial stiffness <strong>and</strong> reflects clinically significant, pathophysiologic<br />
changes. It correlates better with cardiovascular events <strong>and</strong> mortality than the peripheral <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> [10].<br />
The st<strong>and</strong>ard value for PWV depends on a person's age. The PWV in healthy humans with normal <strong>blood</strong><br />
<strong>pressure</strong> ranges between 4 <strong>and</strong> 9 m/s, depending on age. However, a PWV exceeding 10 m/s can be considered<br />
as pathologic [11].<br />
Vascular age<br />
Due to the constant loss of elastic fibres, the aorta belongs to the human organs that are subject to a very early<br />
aging process. Increasing calcification is significant for the loss of elasticity due to which the Windkessel<br />
function deteriorates as well. If the elasticity loss becomes effective, the aorta cannot extend enough in the<br />
ejection phase <strong>and</strong> as a consequence the systolic <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> rises. The diastolic <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> in contrast<br />
decreases further as <strong>blood</strong> cannot flow sufficiently anymore due to missing elasticity in the relaxation phase.<br />
This process of vascular aging is called stiffening, accompanied by high systolic <strong>and</strong> low diastolic <strong>blood</strong><br />
<strong>pressure</strong> values. The isolated systolic hypertension, by far the most frequent form of hypertension in higher<br />
age, is based on the pathophysiologic process of vascular aging. A stiffening aorta develops as a result of<br />
conversion processes in the aortic vessel wall. This leads to fragmentations of elastin, incorporation of collagen<br />
<strong>and</strong> calcification. The vessel becomes stiffer <strong>and</strong> the reflected <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> relocates more <strong>and</strong> more towards<br />
the systole.<br />
The most important measure for aortic elasticity or stiffness is the PWV: the stiffer the artery wall, the higher the<br />
PWV. The PWV enables to regard a patient's stiffness of vessels <strong>and</strong> compare it to that of healthy people of the<br />
same age. This is a way to determine by how many years the vessels diverge from the chronological age. A<br />
slightly higher vascular age corresponds to a normal aging process up to a certain degree. It will become<br />
critical if the aorta is significantly older <strong>and</strong> thus deviates considerably from the chronological age. This<br />
phenomenon of premature aging of arteries is called "Early Vascular Aging" (EVA) [11]. Thus, the examination of<br />
vascular age by means of PWV has the advantage that the vascular age of a person can be determined –<br />
independently of the chronological age.<br />
Correlation between brachial <strong>and</strong> central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
If both the brachial <strong>and</strong> the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> are in<br />
the normotensive range, a physiological arterial elasticity<br />
can be assumed. If isolated systolic hypertension is existent<br />
in elderly people or in young people, the knowledge of the<br />
central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> is indispensable to differentiate<br />
between a harmless juvenile systolic hypertension with<br />
increased vessel elasticity <strong>and</strong> a pathologic systolic<br />
hypertension with increased arterial stiffness. In the first<br />
case, it is a (harmless) amplification, in the second case it is<br />
a (pathologic) augmentation in which the systolic <strong>pressure</strong><br />
<strong>wave</strong> results in an extensive increase of systolic <strong>blood</strong><br />
<strong>pressure</strong> (brachial <strong>and</strong> central) due to the reflected <strong>pulse</strong><br />
<strong>wave</strong>. This is caused by increased arterial resistance.<br />
A masked aortic hypertension is defined as hypertension<br />
form with normal <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> values in practice or<br />
hospital <strong>and</strong> increased values in daily routine which<br />
normally come to light with ambulatory <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
monitoring (ABDM) or self-measurement.<br />
Figure 2: Correlation between central <strong>and</strong> brachial<br />
<strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> [3]<br />
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Then, an increased cardiovascular risk <strong>and</strong> typical hypertensive organ damages are already existent. The<br />
reversible elasticity is of crucial importance for the functional coupling between the heart <strong>and</strong> the vascular<br />
system [3].<br />
The validated analysing algorithm Antares<br />
For identifying aortic stiffness, the measurement of PWV between the carotid <strong>and</strong> femoral arteries is<br />
considered as gold st<strong>and</strong>ard. PWV <strong>and</strong> central systolic <strong>pressure</strong> can be determined indirectly in the course of a<br />
tonometric or oscillometric <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> measurement. Ideally, the measurement of <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
PWV should be possible all in one. The measurement accuracy of these indirect methods must be checked <strong>and</strong><br />
validated against an invasive catheterization. Beside the parameters of arterial stiffness, additional information<br />
as to peripheral resistance <strong>and</strong> stroke volume may be helpful as they might support therapeutic decision<br />
making [9].<br />
The ideal solution would be to obtain the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> by means of a suitable analysing algorithm<br />
within the common brachial cuff measurement because it still complies with the gold st<strong>and</strong>ard. It is applied on<br />
a wide scale, is known in clinical practice <strong>and</strong> acceptable for patients [10]. Here, the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> is<br />
calculated via a transfer function <strong>and</strong> an (existing) augmentation is directly derived.<br />
The analysing algorithm Antares is a software module from Red<strong>wave</strong> Medical GmbH, with which a <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong><br />
analysis (PWA) can be carried out. Within the framework of this PWA, the parameters central (aortic) <strong>blood</strong><br />
<strong>pressure</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong> are determined. The algorithm was validated in a multi-centric study in which<br />
the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> measured invasively via a cardiac catheter was compared with the results of the<br />
cuff-based <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> measurement with subsequent calculation of the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> [12]. In<br />
total, 191 patients were admitted who had to undergo a cardiac catheter examination. From these, 145<br />
patients could be further analysed. The invasive recordings of the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> were compared with<br />
the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> values determined simultaneously <strong>and</strong> in non-invasive manner. Those lastmentioned<br />
ones were calculated by using the Antares algorithm <strong>and</strong> a custo screen recorder.<br />
The mean difference between the invasive <strong>and</strong> non-invasive systolic central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> was 0.71 mmHg,<br />
with a st<strong>and</strong>ard deviation of 5.95 mmHg. Thus, the requirements of the validation protocols of the ARTERY<br />
Society, ESH, BHS <strong>and</strong> AAMI are fully met.<br />
On the basis of this knowledge, the validated Antares algorithm has been integrated into the <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
analysing software custo screen. In combination with the <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> recorder custo screen 310 it is now<br />
possible to conduct a <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> analysis easily <strong>and</strong> everywhere.<br />
Diagnostic importance of central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
Regarding the benefit of central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>, the recommendations of the European Societies for<br />
Hypertension <strong>and</strong> Cardiology report as follows: "Not to treat young patients with systolic hypertension found in<br />
conventional measurement per arm artery <strong>and</strong> measure the <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong> as biomarker of the vascular<br />
function" [3]. Due to the <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> analysis it is possible to determine the physiologic parameters central<br />
<strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong> [13]. The natural aging process of humans makes the <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
rise <strong>and</strong> it may reach a similar level as the peripheral <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> [14]. A number of studies showed that the<br />
central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> in hypertension patients correlates stronger with end organ damages than the<br />
peripheral <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>. This means that especially young patients with low/normal central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
do not need treatment despite showing increased peripheral <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>. Thus, over-treatment can be<br />
avoided [15].<br />
While analysing data of the Framingham study, the correlation between <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> <strong>and</strong> arterial stiffness<br />
was examined over a period of 7 years in approx. 1,800 subjects. It was concluded that increased arterial<br />
stiffness correlates significantly with the occurrence of hypertensive <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> values. Conversely<br />
however, the increased peripheral <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> values alone do not prove to be very helpful for predicting a<br />
rising arterial stiffness in later stages [11].<br />
Also, with regard to the drug therapy, the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> proves to be a diagnostically relevant<br />
indicator. The CAFE study compared how different drugs (Amlodipin vs. Atenolol) which cause a comparable,<br />
peripheral <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> lowering, affect the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> <strong>and</strong> subsequently mortality <strong>and</strong><br />
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morbidity. It showed that the Amlodipin treatment could reduce the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> more efficiently<br />
than Atenolol <strong>and</strong> has therefore a better cardiovascular outcome regarding morbidity <strong>and</strong> mortality [16].<br />
The shape of the <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> ("shape") <strong>and</strong> the PWV, depending decisively on arterial stiffness, are relevant<br />
parameters for the assessment of central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>. Pulse <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong> <strong>and</strong> central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> are<br />
predictive parameters for myocardial infarction <strong>and</strong> stroke, as they enable to view the state of the vessels<br />
indirectly. Consequently, they are superior to a mere risk identification based on the known factors such as<br />
peripheral <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>, age or cholesterol.<br />
An increased central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> means an increase in cardiac afterload which reduces the diastolic<br />
coronary flow <strong>and</strong> thus the myocardial microcirculation. As a consequence, other organs such as kidneys <strong>and</strong><br />
brain may be damaged as well. [9].<br />
Due to the independent prognostic value of arterial stiffness for cardiovascular events such as ischemic heart<br />
disease, stroke <strong>and</strong> renal insufficiency, arterial stiffness is a risk marker for atherosclerotic vessel diseases of a<br />
patient [11].<br />
The prognostic value of arterial PWV surpasses classical risk scores such as for example the Framingham risk<br />
score <strong>and</strong> can be used for risk stratification with other underlying risk factors (hyperlipidemia, diabetes etc.) as<br />
well. The PWV-based risk evaluation is superior to a risk assessment performed according to "known" risk<br />
factors, as it is done in the Framingham risk score with gender, age, <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>, cholesterol, diabetes <strong>and</strong><br />
smoking status. The combination of both however, arterial stiffness <strong>and</strong> conventional risk factors, has brought<br />
a very realistic prediction as to the occurrence of cardiovascular events, <strong>and</strong> that is exactly what modern<br />
cardiovascular diagnostics requires [17].<br />
However, it is doubtful whether for elderly patients (>80 years) the prognostic significance of the PWV will not<br />
reach its limit due to the probably high calcification <strong>and</strong> associated vessel damages.<br />
For practical, clinical considerations the correlations between arterial stiffness (PWV), <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> <strong>and</strong> age<br />
are highly interesting, not least because a PWV exceeding 10 m/s has been adopted as additional end organ<br />
damage in the guidelines of the European hypertension league [7].<br />
A recently published study (Project ASINPHAR@2action) carried out in pharmacies of 11 Portuguese<br />
communities, aims at raising awareness of arterial stiffening <strong>and</strong> early vascular aging (EVA) by means of <strong>blood</strong><br />
<strong>pressure</strong> determination. The central <strong>and</strong> peripheral <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> was measured oscillometrically. The<br />
proportion of study participants with increased arterial stiffening was around 20%. The model that best fitted<br />
for arterial stiffening included age, gender, central aortic <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>, visceral fat, HDL cholesterol,<br />
augmentation index, total arterial resistance, hypertension <strong>and</strong> diabetes. The measurements of the arterial<br />
function in community pharmacies is to provide a basis for the operationalisation of the sub-clinical screening<br />
of target organ damages <strong>and</strong> thus serve as a strategy for improving the supervision of the cardiovascular risk<br />
<strong>and</strong> for promoting treatment adherence [18].<br />
Implementation in custo diagnostic<br />
Screen 310 – the recorder for determining central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
For determining the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong>, it is required to process the entire scope of<br />
all oscillations occurring in a <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> measurement. This required extensions for the <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
recorders regarding data saving <strong>and</strong> processing, which have been implemented in the new <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
recorder custo screen 310. custo screen 310 differs from its predecessor custo screen 300 in various hardware<br />
extensions (memory, processor) <strong>and</strong> a special firmware. The determination of central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> in custo<br />
diagnostic is only possible with a custo screen 310. However, the examination procedure does not differ from<br />
the so-far h<strong>and</strong>ling regarding recorder start <strong>and</strong> recorder readout. When downloading a <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
examination carried out with custo screen 310, the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> is determined, the PWV is calculated<br />
<strong>and</strong> the results are displayed in the software.<br />
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<strong>Central</strong> Blood Pressure & Pulse Wave Velocity<br />
The software module central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
The spot measurement (single measurement)<br />
The spot measurement is a singular <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> measurement which delivers the central <strong>and</strong> brachial<br />
<strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>, the <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong>, <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong> <strong>and</strong> the vascular age. By means of the spot measurement<br />
the cardiovascular risk can be assessed on the basis of <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong>. If the result of a spot measurement<br />
is unclear or borderline, it can be repeated as often as required. All measurements are shown in chronological<br />
order (see also Fig. 3a).<br />
Figure 3a: Spot measurement with view of <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>and</strong> specification of brachial <strong>and</strong> central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> values,<br />
<strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong> as well as vascular age<br />
They can be confirmed, printed or deleted. If there is a reasonable suspicion of hypertension, for example due<br />
to suspicious PWV, a 24h-recording can be arranged to<br />
clarify it. The <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong>s can be displayed individually,<br />
according to the currently selected measurement (s. Fig.<br />
3a), or for all performed measurements of a patient (s. Fig.<br />
3b). When carrying out a spot measurement, it is<br />
recommended to let the patient calm down before the<br />
measurement starts because notably psychological stress<br />
situations may lead to untypically high <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
values [19]. If high <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> values are obtained in<br />
the initial measurement, a further measurement is<br />
recommended after a short waiting period. Fig. 3a shows<br />
that after the waiting period, the patient achieves lower<br />
<strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> values than at the beginning. The<br />
variability of <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong> <strong>and</strong> vascular age is<br />
visible as well. A further repeated measurement<br />
Figure 3b: Spot measurements: View of all <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong>s<br />
confirms the second measurement <strong>and</strong> shows that the<br />
patient's <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> values are in the st<strong>and</strong>ard<br />
range. However, an ABPM could give information about how often <strong>and</strong> how long the patient is exposed to<br />
stressful situations, to clarify for example a masked hypertension.<br />
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ABPM<br />
Beside the brachial, systolic <strong>and</strong> diastolic <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> values, in ABPM with custo screen 310 the central<br />
<strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> values are also determined for each point in time of the measurement. Furthermore, the<br />
analysis provides information about <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong> <strong>and</strong> vascular age. In addition, the corresponding <strong>pulse</strong><br />
<strong>wave</strong> is displayed for each measurement. The respective day <strong>and</strong> night threshold values can be fixed <strong>and</strong> faded<br />
in both for the brachial <strong>and</strong> the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>.<br />
Figure 4a: ABPM - brachial <strong>and</strong> central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> values with PWV, vascular age <strong>and</strong> all measured <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong>s<br />
In the summary table, the average values of the<br />
determined parameters are listed for the whole<br />
measurement period <strong>and</strong> are subdivided in day <strong>and</strong><br />
night. The line description of the individual<br />
parameters on the left border of the table at the same<br />
time serves as a button in order to show or hide the<br />
graphic view of values - simply per mouse click on the<br />
desired parameter.<br />
On the lower right border of the table, the calculated<br />
vascular age of the patient is specified, essentially<br />
calculated on the basis of <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> analyses of the<br />
single measurements (Fig. 4a).<br />
In the initial analysis of an examination, two <strong>pulse</strong><br />
<strong>wave</strong>s are automatically marked for the printout<br />
which are representative for the day <strong>and</strong> night<br />
average. The advantage is that the user gets at least<br />
two representative <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong>s as printouts, even<br />
without having to make a print selection. With a<br />
Figure 4b: ABPM – Pulse <strong>wave</strong> of the currently<br />
measurement<br />
selected<br />
mouse click on the button "Print", further <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong>s can be marked for the printout or once selected<br />
markings can be de-selected again.<br />
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Conclusion<br />
A high brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> is an important cardiovascular risk factor. However, it is also common that<br />
patients having a comparable brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> may differ considerably in their central systolic <strong>blood</strong><br />
<strong>pressure</strong> values.<br />
There is evidence that anti-hypertensive treatment can affect the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> in another way than the<br />
brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>. The actual <strong>and</strong> desired treatment effect of a comprehensive <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> reduction<br />
cannot be exclusively assessed on the basis of brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>. [16].<br />
Knowledge about the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> provides the following benefits:<br />
enables improved predictability of future cardiovascular events, going beyond the brachial <strong>blood</strong><br />
<strong>pressure</strong> <strong>and</strong> other cardiovascular risk factors [6].<br />
represents superior diagnostic precision compared to brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
enables an improved patient management instead of the usual care focusing on brachial <strong>blood</strong><br />
<strong>pressure</strong>.<br />
In sum, the above statements demonstrate that the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> represents a better cardiovascular<br />
risk biomarker than the brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> [5]. The central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> can be exactly assessed with a<br />
suitable analysing algorithm <strong>and</strong> by using the brachial cuff, in an approach that is familiar to clinicians,<br />
acceptable for patients <strong>and</strong> accessible due to its wide-spread use. In other words: this modern <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
technology can meet the original purpose of the measurement of central aortic <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong>, as it was<br />
intended more than 100 years ago.<br />
Although the turning point for routine application has not been reached yet, the available studies indicate that<br />
the central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> should be used in clinical practice [10].<br />
On the basis of the analysing software "custo screen" by custo med, it is possible to complement the classical<br />
<strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> measurement by this important parameter. Based on the current ESH recommendations, the<br />
module complements custo diagnostic in the field of <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> analysis <strong>and</strong> provides highest<br />
measurement accuracy, a validated procedure <strong>and</strong> all that in one device without needing additional<br />
examinations.<br />
The exclusively brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> measurement is not sufficient anymore today to characterize exactly<br />
enough all forms of hypertension in every age group <strong>and</strong> to create an adequate risk stratification.<br />
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Literature<br />
[1] Booth J. (1977): A short history of <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> measurement. Proceedings of the Royal Society of<br />
Medicine: 70:793-799)<br />
[2] Mengden, T. (2008): Zentraler Blutdruck gewinnt an Bedeutung. DRUCKPUNKT, 2008 (2), S.24-25).<br />
[3] Middeke, M. (2014). Blutdruckmessung mittels Pulswellenanalyse: RR reicht nicht mehr. Deutsches<br />
Ärzteblatt, 111 (13), S. 551.<br />
[4] Kelly, R.P., Gibbs, H.H., O’Rourke, M.F., Daley, J.E., Mang, K., Morgan, J.J., Avolid, M.A. (1990):<br />
Nitroglycerin has more favourable effects on left ventricular afterload than apparent from<br />
measurement of <strong>pressure</strong> in a peripheral artery. European Heart Journal 11 (2):138-144<br />
[5] Vasan R.S. (2006): Biomarkers of cardiovascular disease: molecular basis <strong>and</strong> practical considerations.<br />
Circulation, 113:2335-236<br />
[6] Vlachopoulos, C., Xaplanteris, P., Aboyans, V., Brodmann, M., Cífkova, R., Cosentino, F., De Carlo, M.,<br />
Gallino, A., L<strong>and</strong>messer, U., Laurent, S., Lekakis, J., Mikhailidis, D.P., Naka, K.K., Protogerou, A.D.,<br />
Rizzoni, D., Schmidt-Trucksäss, A., van Bortel, L., Weber, T., Yamashina, A., Zimlichman, R. (2015): The<br />
role of vascular biomarkers for primary <strong>and</strong> secondary prevention. A position paper from the<br />
European Society of Cardiology Working Group on peripheral circulation Endorsed by the Association<br />
for Research into Arterial Structure <strong>and</strong> Physiology (ARTERY) Society. Atherosclerosis 241: 507-532<br />
[7] Williams, B., Mancia, G., Spiering, W., Agabiti Rosei, E., Azizi, M., Burnier, M., Clement, D.L., Coca, A., de<br />
Simone, G., Dominiczak, A., Kahan, T., Mahfoud, F., Redon, J., Ruilope, L., Zanchetti, A., Kerins, M.,<br />
Kjeldsen, S.E., Kreutz, R., Laurent, S., Lip, G.Y.H., McManus, R., Narkiewicz, K., Ruschitzka, F.,<br />
Schmieder, R.E., Shlyakhto, E., Tsioufis, C., Aboyans, V., Desormais, I., ESC Scientific Document Group<br />
(2018): 2018 ESC/ESH Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension: The Task Force for the<br />
management of arterial hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) <strong>and</strong> the European<br />
Society of Hypertension (ESH). European Heart Journal. 39 (33): 3021–3104,<br />
[8] Rouxinol-Diasa, A., Araújo, S., Silva, J.A., Barbosa, L., Polónia, J. (2018): Association between<br />
ambulatory <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> values <strong>and</strong> central aortic <strong>pressure</strong> in a large population of normotensive<br />
<strong>and</strong> hypertensive patients. Blood Pressure Monitoring. 23(1): 24-32<br />
[9] Middeke, M. (2017). Zentraler aortaler Blutdruck. Bedeutender Parameter für Diagnostik und Therapie.<br />
Dtsch Med Wochenschr, (142). S. 1430-1436.<br />
[10] Sharman, J.E. (2015): <strong>Central</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> should be used in clinical practice. Artery Research, 9: 1-7<br />
[11] Mengden, T., Hausberg, M., Heiss, C., Mitchell, A., Nixdorff, U., Ott, C., Schmidt-Trucksäss, A.,<br />
Wassertheurer, S. (2016): Arterielle Gefäßsteifigkeit – Ursachen und Konsequenzen. Empfehlungen der<br />
DeutschenHochdruckliga e. V. DHL®– Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hypertonie und Prävention. Der<br />
Kardiologe. 1: 38-46<br />
[12] Dörr, M., Richter, S., Eckert, S., Ohlow, M.-A., Hammer, F., Hummel, A., Dornberger, V., Genzel, E.,<br />
Baulmann, J. (2019): Invasive Validation of Antares, a New Algorithm to Calculate <strong>Central</strong> Blood<br />
Pressure from Oscillometric Upper Arm Pulse Waves. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 8 (7): 1-15<br />
[13] Baulmann, Nürnberger, Weber et al (2010): Arterielle Gefäßsteifigkeit und Pulswellenanalyse -<br />
Positionspapier zu Grundlagen, Dtsch med Wochenschr. 135: 4-14<br />
[14] Cheng, H.-M., Chuang, S.-Y., Sung, S.-H., Wu, C.-C., Wang, J.-J., Hsu, P.-F., Chao, C.-L., Hwang, J.-J.,<br />
Wang T.-D., Huan, Chen, C.-H. (2019): 2019 Consensus of the Taiwan Hypertension Society <strong>and</strong> Taiwan<br />
Society of Cardiology on the Clinical Application of <strong>Central</strong> Blood Pressure in the Management of<br />
Hypertension. Acta Cardiol Sin, 35: 234-243<br />
[15] Vlachopoulos et al (2010) - Prediction of cardiovascular events <strong>and</strong> all-cause mortality with arterial<br />
stiffness, J Am Coll Cardiol. 55(13):1318-27<br />
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[16] Mengden, T. (2008): Messung des zentralen Aortendrucks – Teil II: Klinische Bedeutung zentral erhöhte<br />
Blutdrücke. Management Hypertonie - Journal by Fax. 8. Jahrgang 2008; Nr. 3. Quelle:<br />
https://www.hochdruckliga.de/tl_files/content/dhl/journal-by-fax/nr3_2008.htm<br />
[17] J. Baulmann, J., Herzberg, C-P., Störk, T. (2013): Die Renaissance von Pulswellengeschwindigkeit,<br />
Augmentation und zentralem Aortendruck als Determinanten des kardiovaskulären Risikos. Med Welt<br />
64: 30–33<br />
[18] Pereira T., Paulino, E., Maximiano, S., Rosa, M., Pinto, A.L., Mendes, M.J., Brito, J., Soares, P., Risse, J.,<br />
Gose, S. (2019): Measurement of arterial stiffness <strong>and</strong> vascular aging in community pharmacies-The<br />
ASINPHAR@2action project. Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 21 (6): 813-821<br />
[19] Puzserova, A. & Bernatove, I. (2016): Blood Pressure Regulation in Stress: Focus on Nitric Oxide-<br />
Dependent Mechanisms. Physiological Research 65 (3): 309-342<br />
List of abbreviations<br />
AAMI<br />
ABPM<br />
BP<br />
BHS<br />
EVA<br />
ESC<br />
ESH<br />
PWA<br />
PWV<br />
RR<br />
Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation<br />
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring<br />
Blood Pressure<br />
British Hypertension Society<br />
Early Vascular Aging<br />
European Society of Cardiology<br />
European Society of Hypertension<br />
Pulse Wave Analysis<br />
Pulse Wave Velocity<br />
Riva Rocci<br />
Table of figures<br />
Figure 1: Blood <strong>pressure</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> in dependence of age [3]…………..……………………………. ………… Page 3<br />
Figure 2: Correlation between central <strong>and</strong> brachial <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> [3]……………………………………. ………… Page 4<br />
Figure 3a: Spot measurement with view of <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>and</strong> specification of brachial <strong>and</strong> central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong><br />
values, <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong> as well as vascular age ……..……………………………….…………………... Page 7<br />
Figure 3b: Spot measurements: View of all <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong>s ………………….………..……………………………….. …...Page 7<br />
Figure 4a: ABPM - brachial <strong>and</strong> central <strong>blood</strong> <strong>pressure</strong> values with <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong> <strong>velocity</strong>, vascular age <strong>and</strong> all<br />
measured <strong>pulse</strong> <strong>wave</strong>s…..…………………………………………….…………………………….……….…Page 8<br />
Figure 4b: ABPM – Pulse <strong>wave</strong> of the currently selected measurement …………………….…………………….……. . Page 8<br />
Yours sincerely,<br />
custo med Team<br />
Important notice:<br />
The contents made available here have been generated to the best of our knowledge <strong>and</strong> belief. We do not assume any responsibility for damages resulting<br />
from the use of the information contained herein. All liability claims are invalid. The readers are advised to check the accuracy of all product-related information.<br />
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