By Samwel Doe Ouma
CardiAfric Diagnostics Ltd, a medical diagnostic company, has introduced a new non-invasive device that will enable primary care physicians to diagnose patient’s heart health. The device, named the Arteriograph, provides a physician with several important indications as to a patient’s peripheral and central arterial system totally non-invasively.
The peripheral arterial system is evaluated using a traditional ABI, however, it does not require a technician skilled in reading an ultrasound. Arteriograph non-invasively evaluates the central arterial system such as the condition of the arteries supplying blood to the heart.
This technology uses complex analytical systems that provide the doctor and patient with an indication of the hardening of these critical central arteries; a condition often referred to as arteriosclerosis. The Arteriograph also provides a patient with a relative age evaluation compared to the patient’s chronological age, as well as several other important clinical values for evaluating a patient’s overall cardiovascular health.
In addition, it accomplishes this through its easy to use equipment that requires little training and a test that can be performed in less than 15 minutes, without having the patient undress. CardiAfric is the exclusive agent in Kenya offering this state-of-the-art diagnostic tool, said Alex Lomosi, the company director. The Arteriograph is designed to detect any damage being done to the heart through disease, lifestyle or diet.
The diagnosis can then help the doctor and patient change the course of the detected cardiovascular disease thereby reducing the risk of a heart attack or a cerebral haemorrhage. “The Arteriograph accomplishes this through measurement of a phenomena called the pulse-wave, the pressure wave generated by the heart every time it pumps blood into the arterial system,” Lomosi said.
He added that the technology brings to Kenya a simple and painless evaluation of a person arterial system. Mr. Lomosi further urged Kenyans, and especially the youth, to conduct regular screening for heart ailments. Early detection of cardiovascular disease can lead to a healthier life and lower overall medical costs to the patients.
Mr. Lomosi explained that most diagnostics tools and equipment available for assessing cardiovascular health are time-consuming, expensive, require highly skilled operators and may necessitate an invasive procedure. In contrast, the Arteriograph does not require highly skilled operators to perform the test at the doctor’s direction nor does it require any invasive procedure, yet it can accurately diagnose several critical conditions.
For example, when the heart is being stressed to pump enough blood throughout the body because of arterial stiffness, the Arteriograph can give a doctor an indication of the heart’s pumping efficiency making it possible to treat the condition before it becomes life threatening. Mr. Lomosi pointed out that the Arteriograph is able to provide 10 important measurements relating to the patient’s cardiovascular system and that its ability to detect early onset of atherosclerosis of both the aorta arteries and arterioles could be life changing.
“Before the Arteriograph only specialists could have this type of knowledge and even then, it was the result of the patient having suffered a serious heart condition or incident. The goal of the Arteriograph is to make the patient aware of their cardiovascular condition and alter the course for the better before a serious incident occurs.
Primary care physicians, armed with an Arteriograph, can have a new and revolutionary insight into the condition of the patient’s cardiovascular system that goes way beyond simple blood pressure and an EKG. “The earlier a doctor can diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease, the easier and more effective the treatment. It costs over Sh1 million to treat a complication of a heart disease in Kenya and about Sh500,000 if you have an insurance cover,” said Lomosi, emphasizing the need for regular check-up.
An Arteriograph test is suitable for anyone over 16 years. According to Mr. Lomosi, anyone who has a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease or diabetes are encouraged to screen for cardiovascular diseases. “The price for this is Sh5000 compared to Sh15,000- Sh28,000 with MRI, ECG or echo). This is in line with CardiAfric motto of “Prevention before intervention,” Lomosi added.
The company leases and sells Arteriograph and offers heart screening at Forties Suites, 3rd floor, suites 305, Hospital Rd, Upper Hill Nairobi. It is distributed in Kenya by CardiAfric and registered in Kenya by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB). It has also been cited in over 480 scientific peer reviewed articles and is currently in use at over 250 internationally recognised health institutions.
