Abstract: To investigate the relationship between radial augmentation index (AI) and other noninvasive indices for evaluating arteriosclerosis. Methods: From April to June 2010, a cross-sectional survey was performed in two communities of Shijingshan District, Beijing, China. This study involved 1 752 subjects (aged 23 to 90 years). AI was measured using Colin pulse wave detection device HEM9000AI. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) were measured using Colin noninvasive arteriosclerosis tester VP-1000．Color Doppler flow imaging was used to measure intima-media thickness (IMT) of the bilateral carotid arteries. Results: Compared with the control group, baPWV≥14 m/s, ABI≤0.9 and IMT≥0.9 mm groups showed no significant difference in AI₇₅ (P>0.05). Hypertensive individuals had significantly higher baPWV than the healthy group. Elderly hypertensive individuals with diabetes mellitus or (and) dyslipidemia had lower ABI than the control group. There was no significant difference of AI₇₅ between the disease groups and the healthy group (P>0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that AI₇₅ was associated with women, central aortic systolic pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, and inversely associated with body mass index, waist hip ratio, triglycerides, fasting serum glucose, and not associated with age (r=0.045, P=0.064). There was negative correlation between AI₇₅ and ABI, IMT. AI₇₅  was positively correlated with baPWV in the male group (r=0.101, P=0.005), but not correlated in the female group. Partial correlation analysis found that AI₇₅ was inversely associated with ABI, baPWV and IMT. There was negative correlation between AI₇₅ and baPWV, IMT in the female and male groups, and no correlation between AI₇₅ and ABI (P>0.05). Multivariate gradual regression analysis demonstrated that the independent positive correlation factors of AI₇₅ included female, age, waist hip ratio, central aortic systolic pressure, and the negative correlation factors were body mass index, height, fasting serum glucose (R²=0.372). Conclusion: The lack of correlation of radial augmentation index with indices for evaluating arteriosclerosis suggests that AI is not a sensitive and reliable index for evaluating the degree of arterial stiffness.

Key words: Radial artery, Vascular diseases, Atherosclerosis, Augmentation index