The research objective of the proposed program is to identify and clinically validate biomarkers of vascular aging as potential prognostic and therapeutic modalities in patients at risk or with advanced cardiovascular disease. To achieve the main objective described the following specific tasks shall be accomplished by VASCAge BG research group – Harmonizing knowledge about vascular aging and methods for assessing pulse wave dynamics by initiating a registry for clinical validation of the most established methodologies (different methods for studying pulse wave velocity, central aortic pressure, wave separation analysis), including a comparison of invasive and non-invasive techniques – Construction of a data set among individuals without obvious cardiovascular disease to identify Bulgarian norms for normal and early vascular aging by using non-invasive methods. Search and association of selected pulse wave biomarkers with classical risk factors, components of metabolic syndrome and imaging methods for atherosclerotic involvement of coronary, carotid, femoral segments and abdominal aorta – Assessment of the presence and severity of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction among patients with early vascular aging – Assessment of the diagnostic and prognostic performance of markers of early vascular aging – augmentation index, reflection magnitude, central BP among patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction at different level of risk – with or without pulmonary hypertension – Molecular-biological, genetic and clinical-instrumental phenotyping of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and search for a relationship with the clinical course of the diseases – Define innovative big data approaches for the identification of vascular aging risk factors to be employed for the implementation of prevention and screening programs The successful realization of the program will enable the formation of an interdisciplinary expert hub and research center for evidence-based early disease risk assessment and personalized approach in cardiovascular diseases