Second derivatives of photoplethysmography (PPG) for estimating vascular aging of atherosclerotic patients

The photoplethysmography (PPG) is a non invasive technique in measuring blood volume change. This technique is cheap and very convenient to use with the PPG device being applied to patients´ fingers. In this study the aging index of the second derivative method of PPG (SDPPG-AI) is used for monitoring the arterial condition. The vascular response in resistance arteries plays an important role in blood pressure and the SDPPG-AI can be used to evaluate the vascular aging and screening of atherosclerotic patients. In this study the correlation between premature vascular aging and atherosclerosis of eight atherosclerotic patients is examined. Results showed that the patients recorded higher index of vascular aging compared to eight healthy subjects.