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The arterial stiffness index (ASI) is a widely recognized metric used to assess arterial endothelial function and predict cardiovascular issues. This study has validated ASI as a non-invasive clinical assessment tool for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD).
We conducted a retrospective, observational study involving 396 patients undergoing coronary angiography. ASI was measured using the CardioVision MS-2000 system, and the SYNTAX scores (SXscore) were computed to evaluate CAD severity. Patients were divided into two groups according to the SXscore: low SXscore (<22) and intermediate-high SXscore (≥ 22).
In total, 257 (64.9%) patients had CAD, of whom 166 (64.6%) had low (<22), 75(29.2%) had intermediate (23−32), and 16 (6.2%) had high (≥ 33) SXscore. ASI was significantly higher in CAD patients (120.82 ± 76.26 mmHg×10) compared to non-CAD patients (56.60 ± 35.89 mmHg×10; p < 0.01). In the multivariate regression model, a significant association was observed between ASI and CAD, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.031 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.022−1.040; p < 0.0001]. Additionally, ASI demonstrated an independent association with both intermediate and high SXscore (adjusted OR: 1.027; 95% CI: 1.020−1.034; p < 0.0001). The levels of ASI differed significantly in groups of patients with control, low SXScore, and intermediate-high SXScore as follows: 56.60±35.89 mmHg×10, 92.67±51.79 mmHg×10, and 172.2±86.6 mmHg×10, respectively (p < 0.01). ASI exhibited 59% sensitivity and 90% specificity for recognizing CAD.
ASI serves as a non-invasive biomarker that independently predicts the risk of CAD and shows a positive correlation with coronary plaque burden and the severity of atherosclerosis. By assessing arterial elasticity and vascular endothelial function, this metric offers significant clinical value for the early detection of vascular dysfunction and subclinical atherosclerosis.
Our findings suggested ASI to accurately evaluate arterial elastic function and provide information on CAD severity.
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