Healthy-CardioCheck

To conduct the test, the patient simply clips an infrared sensor on to their index finger. No discomfort whatsoever is experienced by the patient as a harmless infrared light is transmitted through the finger.

                       
CardioCheck then gathers data via the sensor and analyses the condition of the patient's cardiovascular system. Sample data gathered from a cross section of healthy subjects is stored in the device, which serves as a benchmark for comparing the results from each test.

CardioCheck uses these results to estimate the relative 'age' of the patient's arteries... For example, an apparently healthy male aged 35 with no known history of cardiovascular disease could actually have the arteries typical of a man aged 65 . This result would indicate a premature aging or stiffness of the patient's main arteries that had not been previously diagnosed.  

CardioCheck is a portable device that allows non-invasive measurement of arterial stiffness and vascular tone, these now being established markers for cardiovascular disease risk. The device uses an infra-red beam to measure in a finger, the changes in blood volume caused by the pulse, and then compares features of the main pulse with the reflected pulse, which occurs as a result of narrowing of the arteries in the lower body. The measuring device is called a photoplethysmograph and attaches simply to any finger via a non-invasive clip-on finger cuff. Readings are taken over a short period, normally 10 or 15 seconds, and two statistics are calculated via algorithms within the hand-held recording device, which in turn can be linked to a computer for downloading data.

The two key statistics given by the device are the Stiffness Index (SI) and the Reflection Index (RI). In addition, the device gives an estimate of vascular age, measures heart rate and also allows blood pressure readings to be entered and stored. The SI correlates with the 'gold standard' measurement for arterial stiffness, Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) and is a function of the time between the primary and reflected pulses, divided by the subject height . The Reflection Index (RI) is based on the proportional heights of the primary and reflected peaks.

In essence, a high SI means stiff arteries; stiff arteries develop with age and are a key determinant of cardiovascular disease risk. Basically, stiff arteries, akin to a copper tube, cause the reflected pulse to be returned very quickly, while more elastic arteries, as per a soft rubber hose, absorb more energy and cause a greater delay between the primary and reflected pulses. Cardiocheck compares the SI with an existing database stored on the device to give an estimate of Vascular Age, i.e. the average age of a healthy population with the given SI (including 95% Confidence Limits). This is the statistic that will cause most people to respond, particularly if their readings are less than ideal. So, if you are 40 years old and are told you have the arterial age of a 60-year-old, the chances are you will want to respond by implementing lifestyle and dietary changes to help reduce your risk. You might hope that the next time a reading is taken - perhaps  in 3 months time that you had managed to improve your reading. In this way, the device can act as a very effective motivator to ensure compliance with multi-factorial solutions provided by practitioners.

The RI, on the other hand, is an indicator of vascular tone and can give a very good measure of endothelial function, or dysfunction, which in turn is an important indicator of inflammation associated with early symptoms of atherosclerosis, the most common form of cardiovascular disease.

Together, these indices provide a great insight to the cardiovascular health of an individual. To-date, the only way of obtaining such measurements is via expensive hospital-based equipment that either uses invasive probes or ultrasound. Neither type of equipment is suitable for routine screening purposes and both are dependent on highly trained technicians. CardioCheck on the other hand, is simple to use, non-invasive and can be used by any practitioner or non-medical person after only a few minutes of training. Results are provided immediately. Use of CardioCheck is also much more immediate, simpler to interpret and potentially more meaningful than functional tests which may include tests for cholesterol, triglycerides, homocysteine or C-Reactive Protein. With Cardiocheck, you don't have to wait for the lab results to come in!

One of the fascinating aspects about CardioCheck is that it has emerged from evidence-based science and mainstream medicine. This cannot be said for many of the devices currently available to CAM (Complementary & Alternative Medicine) practitioners. An identical device with a different badge, were being supplied directly to hospitals and GPs by Micro Medical, recenly purchased by Cardinal Health. CardioCheck is the version for the CAM market, including health & fitness clubs, pharmacies and health spas.

What about accuracy and reproducibility of results? The device does not need to be calibrated , it is taking a direct measurement of blood volume from the finger which it then converts to pressure reading via an algorithm. A number of published studies demonstrate that the reproducibility of results from Cardiocheck, or the coefficient of variation, is equivalent or better than established devices for measuring arterial stiffness.

The science behind Cardiocheck is exemplary. It has been led for several years by Professor Philip Chowienczyk and Dr Sandrine Millasseau from the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Thomas' Hospital and others from the Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, King's College London. The work leading to the commercialisation of the device has been extensively published in leading peer review journals, in cluding Clinical Science, Cardiology and Hypertension.

CardioCheck is supplied in a portable system that includes a 'state of the art' digital blood pressure meter (Risk Manager assessment),a powerful database software programme on CD Rom, mains adaptor, all necessary leads, operators manual, a hard carrying case and the re-chargeable Cardiocheck device itself.

The CardioCheck System In A Briefcase: