Need for a Noninvasive Diagnostic Platform for Early Detection and Management of Cardiometabolic Disorders

Volume 3, Jul 2014

Gundu H. Rao, PhD, Pratiksha G. Gandhi, MD, Minnesota, USA; Mumbai, India

 Background: There is a great need for the development of a noninvasive comprehensive diagnostic platform, for early detection of cardiometabolic disorders, such as hypertension, central abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), various vasculopathies, heart disease, and stroke. Several studies have demonstrated the usefulness of monitoring health of the blood vessels by using techniques that measure, intima–media thickness (IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), ankle–brachial index (ABI), carotid duplex ultrasound (CDU) index, vessel wall plaque volume (3D carotid ultrasound). Although so many methodologies are available for early detection of altered vascular function, the most widely used method is monitoring aortic pulse wave (PWV). With the advance in technologies, now it is possible to use multiple technologies and build a comprehensive risk assessment platform. It is also possible to add capabilities for risk prediction in such a platform. Availability of such a diagnostic platform will facilitate the surveillance of cardiometabolic disorders at the community level. To illustrate the usefulness of such a comprehensive approach for early diagnosis of metabolic diseases, in this article we have used “RISC” platform used by the Life Span (TOI sponsored) in India, as an example. However, we feel that there is great opportunity as well as challenge for further improvement of such applications. (J Clin Prev Cardiol. 2014;3(3):93-8).

Volume 3, Number 3, Pages: 93-98