Comparative analysis of START and CAVI arterial stiffness scores in hypertensive patients

Aim.  To compare  the  novel arterial stiffness  index START and  the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) in hypertensive (HTN) patients. Material and methods. A total of 709 people  with HTN aged  24 to 64 years  were  examined by volume sphygmography  using VaSera VS-1000 (Fukuda Denshi, Japan).  CAVI  and  START values obtained retrospectively  from pulse  wave velocity and  blood pressure  were studied using an online calculator.

Results. The median CAVI score was within the normal range (<9,0): 7,5 (6,6; 8,4) on the right and 7,4 (6,5; 8,4) on the left. The median of the START index was 6,25 (5,0; 7,55) on the right and 6,4 (5,1; 7,8) on the left. For young people (21-30 years old), the median START score was 4,47, for the CAVI index — 6,25 (p>0,05). In the older age group (61-70 years), the median START index was 7,27, for the CAVI index — 8,4 (p>0,05).  The growth pattern of the START score with age was higher by 38,5% than the CAVI index by 25,6% (p=0,034). A high degree  of correlation between CAVI and START was noted (r=0,823, p<0,001).  Parameters were associated with age (r=0,412 for CAVI and r=0,355 for START; p<0,001), smoking duration (r=0,390 and r=0,361; p<0,001), glomerular filtration rate (r=-0,317 and r= -0,318; p<0,001), body mass index (r=-0,176 and r=-0,185; p=0,001). For the CAVI index, a relationship was found with the glucose level (r=0,192; p<0,001) and a sedentary  lifestyle (r=-0,157; p=0,04), while for the START index — with the creatinine level (r=0,143; p=0,01).

Conclusion.  Patients  with hypertension  showed  a high correlation between   the  novel  START index  and  the  CAVI   score   (r=0,823, p<0,001).  The indicators  had similar associations  with risk factors, which is important for the  subsequent practical  application of the START index.

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