Significance of the “arterial stiffness” measurement

The successor of normal blood pressure measurement devices

Arterial stiffness has been established as an effective predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality, independently of traditional risk factors. Knowledge of the values related to the arterial stiffness parameters provides a possibility for early diagnosis of the above phenomena, enabling a proper course of action in treating patients even in the asymptomatic stage of their cardiovascular disease. A gradual increase can be observed in the significance of the non-invasive methods for arterial stiffness assessment, such as pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurement, regarding the screening of the patients. The PWV parameter represents the propagation velocity of pressure waves which can be analysed nearly anywhere in the vascular system. However, the aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) is considered to possess the highest clinical relevance.

The Arteriograph device providing – among others – the value of the PWVao parameter, functions with an improved efficiency in comparison with common blood pressure measurement devices in predicting several cardiovascular diseases. The device is a substantial replacement of the normal NIBP devices due to its technical edge above them.