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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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<strong>Central</strong> Blood Pressure & Pulse Wave Velocity<br />

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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<strong>Central</strong> Blood Pressure & Pulse Wave Velocity<br />

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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<strong>Central</strong> Blood Pressure & Pulse Wave Velocity<br />

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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<strong>Central</strong> Blood Pressure & Pulse Wave Velocity<br />

[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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