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.