Pulse wave analysis reproducibility with the Complior Analyse device: a methodological study.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility, as well as the temporal variability of the new Complior Analyse assessing central arterial hemodynamic parameters through carotid pulse wave analysis (PWA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-seven (60% men) participants, with a mean age of 34.26±16.58 years, were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. All patients were subjected to sequential measures of carotid PWA by two experienced operators. In a group of 27 patients, PWA was also determined 1 month after the first evaluation to address the temporal stability of the PWA estimations with the device. RESULTS: The analysis of concordance revealed a very good agreement for paired PWA values, regarding both intraobserver variability and interobserver variability and also the temporal variability. Intraclass correlation coefficients above 0.9 were calculated for central systolic blood pressure, central pulse pressure, and the augmentation index, in all three conditions. Small mean differences for intraobserver, interobserver, and temporal reproducibility were also observed for the three major parameters -0.5 mmHg [limits of agreement (LOA) 9.1;8.1], 0.1 mmHg (LOA 6.6;6.8), and -0.3 mmHg (LOA 10.2;9.6), respectively, for central systolic blood pressure; 0.4 mmHg (LOA 6.2;6.9), 1.0 mmHg (LOA 6.0;8.1), and -0.4 mmHg (LOA 6.7;6.1), respectively, for central pulse pressure; and 0.8% (LOA 14.0;15.5), 0.1% (LOA 15.6;15.9), and -0.1% (LOA 16.2;16.1), respectively, for the augmentation index. The observed correlations were independent of sex, age, arterial pressure, heart rate, and BMI. CONCLUSION: The data demonstrated an excellent reproducibility of the Complior Analyse for the assessment of central hemodynamic parameters, when used in ideal conditions and by experienced observers. The results demonstrates that this device is suitable for the inclusion in integrated clinical follow-up programs, particularly regarding central arterial pressure estimations.