Radial Diastolic Augmentation Index Is a Useful Predictor of Arterial Stiffness

Diastolic augmentation index (DAI), calculated from radial artery pressure waveform, has been associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate whether DAI could be used as a predictor of arterial stiffness and the effect of heart rate (HR) on it.Measurements of anthropometric parameters, blood pressure (BP),Augmentation index (AI) andDAIwere taken in 242healthy subjects (130men and 112women; age 16 78 years).DAI and AI were measured in a subgroup of 16 subjects (10 men and 6 women; age 19 69 years) in a twomonth follow-up study, which aimed to investigate the effect of HR changes. Statistically, DAI was higher in women compared to men (44:8% 7:7% compared with 43:6% 6:9%, P < 0:05). DAI was decreased with age (men: r 1⁄4 0:755, P < 0:05; women: r 1⁄4 0:708, P < 0:05) and negatively correlated to AI (men: r 1⁄4 0:704, P < 0:05; women: r 1⁄4 0:756, P < 0:05). There was no significant change in DAI when HR ranged from 60 to 80 bpm.Multiple regression analysis demonstrated fewer determinants affect DAI compared with AI. These findings indicate that the simple radial DAI might be used as an index to assess vascular aging.