Gao L, Lu D, Xia G, et al. - Arterial stiffness index (ASI) affords a highly valuable tool to diagnose coronary heart disease (CHD) as well as to predict its severity.

• This study involved 726 patients with suspected CHD; split into three groups based on coronary angiography results: control group (without obvious coronary artery disease), single-vessel disease group, and multi-vessel disease group (the number of vessels diseased ≥ 2).

• A positive correlation of ASI with the number of diseased branches of coronary artery was observed, and an increase in the value of ASI was noted as the number of the diseased branches increased.

• Significantly higher ASI value in the stable angina (SA) group vs controls was evident, and remarkably raised ASI value in the unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction groups was detected vs the control and SA groups.

• ASI had sensitivity and specificity of 71.0% and 85.4% in diagnosing CHD, respectively.

• Sensitivity and specificity of ASI for predicting the severity of CHD were 72.1% and 57.9%, respectively.