Capabilities of arterial stiffness index for the diagnosis of the atherosclerosis of brachiocephalic arteries in young and middle-aged men during the screening surveys

Peripheral artery diseases of an atherosclerotic pattern are an important problem of public healthcare. The distribution of subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) in adults is 62%. Objective. To develop the reference criteria of arterial stiffness indices for the diagnosis of the atherosclerosis of brachiocephalic arteries (BCA). Material and methods. Study group included 352 workers of oil production industry (men of an employable age). Sphygmomanometry (SPMM) by VaSera VS-1500 («Fukuda Denshi Co., Ltd», Japanese) sphygmomanometer and sphygmograph was conducted, an extracranial BCA ultrasound examination by the Vivid iq («GE Vingmed Ultrasound A/S», Norway) scanner of expert class was performed. ROC-analysis and statistical data processing were done. Results. Ultrasound atherosclerotic signs of BCA were revealed in 81 (23%) study patients, normal ultrasound picture of BCA had 271 (77%) study patients. Very good predictive ability of CAVI (AUC=0.803) and good predictive ability of R-AI (AUC=0.736) were shown concerning the probability of the atherosclerosis of BCA. According to the ROC-analysis matrix, the cut-off point value in relation to the atherosclerosis of BCA was 7.45 for CAVI and 0.98 for R-AI with 52—62% sensitivity and 78—81% specificity. The inclusion of SPMM in periodical medical check-up will make it possible to timely identify the carotid arteries affection in asymptomatic patients (especially in young patients) and will provide a purposive selection for subsequent ultrasound examination of BCA. Conclusion. The CAVI (AUC=0.803) and R-AI (AUC=0.736) arterial stiffness indices have an independent predictive value concerning the diagnosis of the atherosclerosis of brachiocephalic arteries, detected by duplex scanning. The developed reference criteria for CAVI in value of 7.45 and for R-AI in value of 0.98 allow to predict the presence of the subclinical atherosclerosis of brachiocephalic arteries in men of an employable age.