A new tonometric device for radial augmentation index and subendocardial viability ratio: potential use in health screening.

Augmentation index (AIx) and subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) are widely accepted indices of wave reflection and myocardial oxygen demand relative to supply. This study aimed to validate a new tonometric device (IIM-2010A) for obtaining AIx and SEVR from radial artery. A total of 68 outpatients (32 men and 36 women) aged 20 to 76 years (44.7±16.6 years) recruited from a health screening center participated in the study. AIx was obtained from radial pressure using the HEM-9000AI and IIM-2010A devices, while SEVR was measured from carotid pressure with the tonometric method and from radial pressure by the IIM-2010A device. In a subgroup of 24 patients, the measurements of AIx and SEVR were repeated after an interval of 10 minutes. The correlation of radial AIx between the IIM-2010A and HEM-9000AI devices was highly significant (r=0.956, P<.01). Radial SEVR determined from IIM-2010A was also highly related to carotid SEVR (r=0.864, P<.01), although the value was about 13.1% lower. There was no statistically significant difference between the repeated measurements of both indices. The lower coefficient of variation (2.9% vs 4.3% for AIx, 3.3% vs 4.1% for SEVR) and higher intraclass correlation coefficient (0.96 vs 0.91 for AIx, 0.93 vs 0.86 for SEVR) of IIM-2010A confirmed better short-term reproducibility, compared with the HEM-9000AI device and carotid tonometry. The new tonometric device IIM-2010A is effective and reproducible in calculating radial AIx and SEVR and has potential use in health screening.