A Pilot Estimation of Ventricular-Arterial Coupling Using a Vascular Screening Device (VaSera®)

• Published in: Journal of Nippon Medical School Vol. 90; no. 2; pp. 220 - 227
• Main Authors: Kayembe, David Kanyinda, Hosokawa, Koji, Obata, Yurie, Isada, Tetsuro, Shigemi, Hiroko, Shigemi, Kenji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Medical Association of Nippon Medical School 25-04-2023
• Subjects: cardiovascular physiology; screening; VaSera; ventricular function; ventricular-arterial coupling; cardiovascular physiology; VaSera; screening; ventricular function; ventricular-arterial coupling
• ISSN: 1345-4676; 1347-3409
• DOI: 10.1272/jnms.JNMS.2023_90-212

Background: Non-invasive cardiovascular assessment has become an alternative to invasive techniques. VaSera®, a vascular screening device, measures arterial stiffness with the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI); it also measures cardiophysiological variables of ejection time (ET) and pre-ejection period (PEP). We aimed to apply the parameters obtained by VaSera® to estimate heart function based on left ventricular end-systolic elastance/arterial elastance (Ees/Ea) and to assess the minimal required number of measurements for estimation. Methods: We conducted an experimental laboratory study for healthy volunteers. Using the previously established formula, the Ees/Ea value of each participant was estimated using ET and PEP values measured by VaSera®. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) assessed the minimum required number of measurements. Concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and Bland and Altman analysis assessed variation of Ees/Ea estimation against the trimmed average. Results: A total of 660 measurements from 132 participants were included. The Ees/Ea estimates from the VaSera® were 1.5 [1.2, 1.9]. The ICC for Ees/Ea was 0.71 (95% confidence interval: 0.65-0.77), suggesting that four measurements were required. The CCC between the trimmed average of Ees/Ea and the mean of four Ees/Ea estimates was 0.99. Bland and Altman analysis showed excellent agreement for the mean of four Ees/Ea estimates and the trimmed average of Ees/Ea. Conclusions: For screening of heart failure, the Ees/Ea estimated using non-invasive vascular-stiffness assessment device would be tolerable and four sequential measurements were required.