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The information displayed next to the biomarkers represents a graphical representation of your numbers in comparison to a cardiovascularly healthy population of approximately 4,000 individuals, between the ages of 18 to 90, who had their central blood pressure (CBP) waveform and its cardiovascular-related features measured. A value in the middle section (labeled as "within range") means that the number falls within the range seen in 90% of this group. Numbers to the right or left represent either "above range" or "below range", each side representing about 5% of the healthy subjects. Whenever the dot is green (whether within or outside of range), the number is consistent with values that are generally expected for that age, sex, and height. A red dot indicates that the numbers fall in a range that appeared in at most 5% of the healthy people and is potentially not optimal for someone of the same sex and similar age.

Pulse Wave Analysis (PWA) is a technique used to assess the health and function of your arteries by analyzing the waveform of blood flow. PWA evaluates how blood pressure travels through the arteries, providing valuable information on arterial stiffness, central blood pressure, and the overall condition of your cardiovascular system. This analysis helps detect early signs of arterial dysfunction and potential cardiovascular risks.

Brachial Blood Pressure is the pressure or force of blood on the brachial artery in the upper arm.

Brachial Blood Pressure is represented by two numbers: systolic blood pressure (SBP, which is the maximum blood pressure on the brachial artery during heart ejection of blood, and diastolic blood pressure (DBP DIA), which is the minimum pressure on the artery during heart filling with blood.

Why it Matters

High blood pressure can cause major cardiovascular disease if untreated or treated but poorly controlled. The 2017 American Heart Association guidelines for management of high blood pressure noted that nearly 120 million or 47% of American adults are hypertensive, yet only 24% have their blood pressure under control. Left untreated, hypertension can damage major organs like the heart, brain and kidneys and can lead to serious cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.

Central Blood Pressure refers to the systolic pressure in the aorta (the main artery where blood is pumped into directly from the heart). Central Blood Pressure is the maximum pressure the heart and major organs face and differs from the measured brachial systolic pressure at the arm by up to 40 mmHg.

Why it Matters

Measuring Central Blood Pressure in conjunction with Brachial Blood Pressure gives a more complete picture of arterial health and heart health.

Heart Rate is the number of heart beats (or contractions) per minute. The CONNEQT Pulse offers users accurate heart rate measurements similar to heart rate measured from an electrocardiogram.

Why it Matters

Monitoring heart rate is an important measure for assessing the cardiovascular system. Heart rate assessments should be similar to the heart rate measured by standard medical electrocardiogram.

Central Pulse Pressure is the difference between central systolic and diastolic pressures.

Why it Matters

The higher the Central Pulse Pressure, the greater the load on the heart and the blood pulse impact on major organs like the heart, brain, and kidney. Elevated Central Pulse Pressure can be used to assess the risk for damage to major organs in your body.

Subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) is an index of the oxygen supply to the inner heart muscle (endocardium). It is a reflection of the amount of blood that flows to the inner heart muscle.

Why it Matters

Understanding this number is especially important for those with cardiovascular disease who have an increased risk of not having enough oxygenated blood to meet the body’s demands. In the presence of heart disease, this measurement can help in assessing risk of problems when the need for increased oxygen supply is high (e.g., exercise) and is particularly important to the heart, brain and kidneys.

Augmentation Pressure refers to the increase in central aortic blood pressure after its initial peak in systole. The increase is caused by pressure wave reflection where the pressure reflected back from branching points in the arteries comes back to the heart. An increase in Augmentation Pressure is due to the reflected pressure returning more rapidly due to hardened (stiffened) arteries. An increased Augmentation Pressure is indicative of an extra load and strain on the heart.

The CONNEQT Pulse separately measures both Augmentation Pressure and Augmentation Index. Augmentation Pressure measures the absolute increase in pressure and arterial stiffness due to wave reflections. Augmentation Index normalizes this value relative to overall blood pressure and heart rate, offering a standardized metric for comparison. Taken together, Augmentation Pressure and Augmentation Index are measures of arterial stiffness that enhance the prediction of cardiovascular risk.

Why it Matters

Major arteries act as a cushion to absorb continuous heart pumping. As you age, these arteries become stiffer, which instead of absorbing the pressure during systole, the pressure is reflected back thereby increasing blood pressures and negatively impacting important body organs including the heart. Several diseases can cause your arteries to stiffen early in life. A marker of arterial stiffness, elevated Augmentation Pressure is associated with the presence of, and risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Augmentation Index assesses the increased pressure relative to the central pulse pressure (the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures). Augmentation Index is an indirect measure of arterial stiffness. It increases with age and reflects the increased load on the heart due to stiffening arteries.

The CONNEQT Pulse separately measures both Augmentation Index and Augmentation Pressure. Augmentation Pressure measures the absolute increase in pressure and arterial stiffness due to wave reflections. Augmentation Index normalizes this value relative to overall blood pressure and heart rate, offering a standardized metric for comparison. Taken together, Augmentation Pressure and Augmentation Index are measures of arterial stiffness that enhance the prediction of cardiovascular risk.

Why it Matters

Increased pressure on the heart forces it to work harder. Augmentation Index provides an assessment of the relative increase in pressure on the heart that may be due to arterial stiffness and can help evaluate the risk for cardiovascular disease. Augmentation Index can also be used to monitor the long-term stress on the heart and the cardiovascular system, which can contribute to thickening of the heart muscle and/or the development of heart failure.

Arterial Age is a reflection of the condition of your arteries in comparison to the average arterial condition for your chronological age. The CONNEQT Pulse uses arterial stiffness and other vascular biomarkers to estimate how your arteries compare to those of people the same age, giving you an indication of whether your arteries are aging faster or slower than normal.