Research on Risk Assessment of Arterial Stiffness by Using Photoplethysmogram in Young People

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a key factor in lifestyle-related diseases, characterized by near-irreversible arterial thickening and hardening. Early detection is crucial for effective intervention, however current wearable technology lacks noninvasive arterial stiffness assessment capabilities. This study explores the feasibility of using Photoplethysmogram (PPG) at the radial artery for arterial stiffness evaluation, focusing on green-light PPG. PPG signals were collected from 18 healthy young participants (9 males: 23.3 ± 3.7 years; 9 females: 24.7 ± 7.3 years) at the fingertip and wrist. The second derivative PPG (SDPPG) obtained from fingertip with green and near-infrared light and that from radial artery with green light was analyzed. Preliminary results showed that SDPPG aging indices obtained from fingertip with green and near-infrared light were highly correlated in 4 participants, suggesting its feasibility for vascular age estimation. However, at the radial artery, individualized vascular age estimation models may be required. Further studies are needed to validate this approach and establish standardized evaluation criteria.