Influence of age and hypertension on the association between small artery compliance and coronary artery disease.

Small artery elasticity index (SAEI) as determined by a new non-invasive pulse-wave contour analysis has been used to identify abnormalities of the arterial wall associated with aging, hypertension (HT), endothelial dysfunction, and coronary artery disease (CAD). The present study examined the influence and interaction of CAD risk factors on the association between SAEI in risk-associated patients with CAD (case subjects, n = 178) and without CAD (control subjects, n = 202). Case subjects had a lower SAEI than control subjects, and age was consistently and negatively correlated with SAEI. The HT was related to reduced SAEI in female subjects overall and in male case subjects. In male patients with hypertension, the association between SAEI and CAD was significant (P < .05) after considering conventional risk factors of CAD. In conclusion, age and HT should be considered when using SAEI in the early diagnosis of CAD, and lower SAEI could be of greatest diagnostic value in male patients with HT. (C) 2004 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.