title: Augmentation index is associated with cardiovascular risk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Augmentation index is a parameter measured by pulse wave analysis (PWA) and is used as a surrogate measure of arterial stiffness. The aim of this study was to assess whether augmentation index is associated with cardiovascular risk, as well as to evaluate whether the determinants of augmentation index are different in patients with cardiovascular disease compared to healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We related augmentation index to risk scores in 216 subjects with or without a cardiovascular disease. Subjects without cardiovascular disease were classified according to the 'coronary risk chart' of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), and those with cardiovascular disease were classified using the SMART (Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease) score and the EPOZ (Epidemiological Prevention study Of Zoetermeer) function. Augmentation index was derived by PWA using carotid applanation tonometry. Augmentation index was also correlated to age, blood pressure, heart rate, smoking history, cholesterol, height, body mass index and gender in subjects categorized as healthy or with cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Augmentation index significantly increased with increasing risk scores (P < 0.0001) and was significantly correlated to cardiovascular risk (ESC: P < 0.0001; SMART: P < 0.0001; EPOZ: P < 0.0001). In subjects with and without cardiovascular disease, augmentation index was correlated with diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, height and gender. Age was found to be significantly correlated with augmentation index only in healthy subjects but not in those with atherosclerotic disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that augmentation index may be a useful marker of cardiovascular risk. Further studies are required to investigate the relationship between age and augmentation index in subjects with atherosclerotic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University of Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nürnberger
authors.forename: Ayten
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keflioglu-Scheiber
authors.forename: Anabelle M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Opazo Saez
authors.forename: Rene R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Philipp
authors.forename: Rafael F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Schäfers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001827:Body Height; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D011674:Pulse; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics