Estimated Arterial Stiffness

Since arterial stiffness assessment is not widely available, several measures have been proposed to facilitate its introduction in everyday clinical practice either through equations or by using artificial intelligence. Indeed, machine learning algorithms may improve accessibility and performance of vascular age assessment. In this line, an estimated PWV (ePWV), which is calculated exclusively from age and mean arterial blood pressure, has been proposed. This parameter was found to predict MACE independently of conventional risk scores (namely FRS and SCORE) but seldomly independently of the traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Hence, introduction of ePWV in risk stratification, when cfPWV measurements are unavailable, can be of clinical value as a pedagogic tool to convey the concept of early vascular aging to subjects in need of cardiovascular prevention. Nevertheless, the amount of clinical information derived from the direct measurement of cfPWV cannot be replaced with ePWV, and thus measuring cfPWV is still recommended in cases where risk prediction is challenging.