DALLAS, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Two major cardiovascular outcomes studies that utilized AtCor Medical’s SphygmoCor system to non-invasively measure central blood pressures were reported upon today at the American Heart Association’s annual scientific sessions. Both studies showed that blood pressure at the heart is more predictive of cardiovascular outcomes than is traditional cuff blood pressure measured in the arm.
Dr. Bryan Williams (University of Leicester, UK) presented on behalf of the investigators in the Conduit Artery Functional Endpoint (CAFE) sub-study of the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial (ASCOT). The ASCOT study enrolled 19,257 patients and with overall results reported earlier this year. The study investigated the relative blood pressure lowering benefits of two treatment regimens, and study showed that newer drugs (amlidipine, a calcium channel blocker, plus peridopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme -- or ACE -- inhibitor) had markedly better cardiovascular outcomes than more conventional drugs (atenolol, a beta blocker, plus a thiazide diuretic). The newer drugs demonstrated better outcomes despite the fact that the cuff blood pressures were the same in both groups.
The CAFE study tested the hypothesis that the two blood pressure treatment regimens could have differing effects on pressure at the heart and, therefore, cardiovascular outcomes, despite the previously-reported similar effects on blood pressure reading taken at the arm. The ability to measure blood pressure at the heart non-invasively was made possible by the new SphygmoCor system developed by AtCor Medical. The CAFE trial found that blood pressure at the heart was 4.3 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) lower with the new drugs compared to the older drug regimen.
“In the CAFE cohort within ASCOT, central pulse pressure was a significant determinant of total cardiovascular and renal events/procedures,” Dr. Williams said. “This finding has major indication for interpreting results in clinical trials. It also suggests a mechanism whereby certain categories of drugs might be more effective than others at reducing blood pressure (at the heart).
“The second report was from the Strong Heart Study, which was initiated by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute to investigate cardiovascular disease and its risk among American Indian tribes. The Strong Heart Study incorporated the SphygmoCor system to measure central aortic pressures and compared them with conventional cuff blood pressures as predictors of cardiac events. Findings were reported by Dr. Mary Roman of Cornell University. Over 2,400 subjects were enrolled and followed for an average of four years. The trial found that blood pressure measured at the heart was more predictive of cardiovascular outcomes than standard cuff blood pressure measured in the arm.
Ross Harricks, CEO of AtCor Medical, stated, “These two long-term cardiovascular outcome studies -- one in the USA and one in Europe -- confirm that blood pressure at the heart is key to understanding cardiovascular risk and the effects of drug interventions. Our SphygmoCor system is the only FDA- cleared non-invasive tool for measuring blood pressure at the heart.”
About AtCor Medical
AtCor Medical, Pty. Ltd. and AtCor Medical, Inc. (USA) market an innovative biomedical development that is an advance on diagnostic technology for cardiovascular research and clinical practice. This advance has been developed into the SphygmoCor(R) suite of products. In particular, the SphygmoCor(R) Px System non-invasively provides the calibrated blood pressure waveform in the ascending aorta -- and derives from the key central cardiovascular parameters driving cardiovascular risk.
The company’s SphygmoCor products are installed in over 40 countries, primarily in research and in clinical trial use. It is now beginning to expand the clinical markets for its innovative non-invasive cardiovascular diagnostic products.
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AtCor Medical
CONTACT: Doug Kurschinski, +1-312-560-3419, of AtCor Medical
Web site: http://www.atcormedical.com/
