Expert panel publishes guidance for central aortic pressure waveform analysis in patient care

CHICAGO, AtCor Medical Holdings Limited, the developer and marketer of the SphygmoCor^® system which measures central aortic blood pressures and arterial stiffness non-invasively, today announced guidance from a panel US medical experts for physicians on the use of central aortic blood pressure waveform analysis in patient care. The article, "Clinical Use of Pulse Wave Analysis: Proceedings From a Symposium Sponsored by North American Artery" was published in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension.

The panel, convened by the North American Artery Society, concluded that analysis of the central pressure waveform provides a valuable complement to brachial blood pressure measurement. Patients' blood pressure measured using brachial pressure and central aortic pressures may be different, and interpretation of the central waveform and data may improve drug selection and dosing. The recommendations focused on three key areas:

• Deciding whether to initiate, intensify or change therapy in younger patients
• Deciding which anti-hypertensive medication to prescribe and/or add additional medications
• Determining whether drug therapy or lifestyle changes that have reduced brachial pressure have equally reduced central blood pressure.

The paper included case studies with practical examples demonstrating how doctors can manage hypertension guided by the central aortic pressure waveform and associated metrics.

"Better management of hypertension could make a great difference in reducing heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease," said Raymond Townsend MD, Professor of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and president of the North American Artery Association. "The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that over 53% of people in the US with high blood pressure have uncontrolled hypertension and that 45% of patients taking medicine still have uncontrolled hypertension."

The panel included physicians from The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, New York University School of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Tulane University School of Medicine, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NY, Baystate Medical Center and Tufts University, the James J. Peters VA Medical Center Bronx NY, The Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale AZ and St. Clair Specialty Physicians, Detroit Michigan.

Source: AtCor Medical