Flow Velocity, Fluid Dynamics and Vascular Pathophysiology

Abstract

Diseases of blood vessels cause more morbidity and mortality than combined impact of any other major noncommunicable disease (NCD) including cancer. By and large, these diseases are diagnosed by monitoring known risk factors. The management of the disease is more or less limited to the management of the risk factors. We strongly feel, that development of a therapy system based on the management of disease of the vessel, than management of the risk factors, will yield better results and provide better opportunity for individualized therapy. Framingham Studies provided evidence, to support the role of risk factors such as increased blood pressure and altered blood lipids, for promoting acute cardiovascular (CV) events (https://www.framinghamheartstudy.org). Based on these results, management strategies for these risk factors were developed. Some of the risk score models currently available include; Framingham Risk Score (FRS), Monitoring Changes in Intimal Medium Thickness (IMT), University of Minnesota-10 Point Risk Scoring System (UMSS), Coronary Calcium Scoring (CCS), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Vessels, 3D Ultrasound (US) for Monitoring Carotid Plaque Volume (CPV), 3D Ultrasound for Monitoring Benefits of Therapy, and Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) Index for monitoring arterial compliance. Recent studies with CCS using CT (calcium scoring for coronary arteries), and MRI (vessel volume measurements) have demonstrated that using conventional methods for monitoring risk (Framingham Risk Score), may exclude more than 30% of the individuals from further screening for high-risk. With rapid progress in emerging technologies, software and analytics, predictive and preventive care will improve tremendously. In this overview, we discuss the importance of monitoring blood flow velocity and fluid dynamics of regional vascular beds for the early diagnosis of vascular disease and its management.