The Effect of Coronary Atherosclerosis on Radial Pressure Wave: A Cross-Sectional Observational Clinical Study

Purpose

This research focuses on developing new ways to monitor coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading type of cardiovascular disease, which requires more straightforward, safer, and more continuous tracking methods along with angiography, the gold standard method. This need arises due to the high risk, cost, and the large number of people living with undiagnosed CAD. The study explores the use of the intrinsic frequency (IF) method, a promising but underutilized technique in the realm of CAD monitoring, to investigate its effectiveness in identifying CAD through the analysis of radial pressure wave patterns.

Method

The radial pressure waves, alongside major CAD risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking, family history, age, and sex) were analyzed in 100 patients undergoing angiography. The IF method was utilized to evaluate the dynamics of heart and arterial system function, focusing on specific IF indices that reflect vasculature health level.

Result

The results, validated through T-tests, reveal notable alterations in specific IF indices among CAD patients: \({{\varvec{\omega}}}_{2}\) shows a significant increase with a mean of 82.5 bpm in CAD versus 41.56 bpm in non-CAD cases. Similarly, \({\varvec{\Delta}}{\varvec{\omega}}\) displays a significant decrease with a mean of 15.73 bpm in CAD compared to 49.02 bpm in non-CAD individuals. Conversely, \({{\varvec{\omega}}}_{1}\) demonstrates minimal variance between CAD and non-CAD groups.

Conclusion

This study underscores the potential of IF indices, particularly \({{\varvec{\omega}}}_{2}\) and \({\varvec{\Delta}}{\varvec{\omega}}\), as markers for severe CAD cases and strongly advocate for the integration of continuous monitoring strategies via modern technology in healthcare, such as smartwatches in CAD management.

Graphical Abstract