What is the Origin of Vascular Integrity Index?

This term is a conceptual tool developed in preventative medicine and systems biology to translate complex vascular physiology data into a clinically actionable metric. The word "integrity" emphasizes the structural and functional soundness of the blood vessels. Its foundation is in the understanding that cardiovascular risk is multifactorial and requires an integrated measure to guide therapeutic prioritization in hormonal and metabolic health.

What is the Mechanism of Vascular Integrity Index?

The index calculation typically incorporates measures of arterial elasticity, such as Pulse Wave Velocity, the functional capacity of the endothelium, and circulating markers of damage or inflammation, such as oxidized LDL and hs-CRP. Hormonal factors, including optimal estrogen and testosterone levels, positively influence the index by promoting nitric oxide production and reducing arterial wall stress. The resulting single score provides a clear target for systemic interventions aimed at improving vascular health.

Vascular Integrity Index ∞ Area

Vascular Integrity Index

Meaning

The Vascular Integrity Index is a composite, calculated metric designed to provide a comprehensive, single-score representation of the overall structural health and functional resilience of the circulatory system, particularly the arterial wall and its endothelial lining. This index integrates multiple physiological and biochemical markers, such as arterial stiffness, endothelial function, and inflammatory burden, to offer a more nuanced prediction of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk than individual metrics alone. A high index score indicates robust arterial health and low biological age.