Abstract. The article about the role of vascular wall stiffness in the development of coronary heart disease and renal dysfunction. At the beginning of the review, the definition of the stiffness of the vascular wall is given. Rigidity of the aorta and large vessels of the elastic type is being studied as an independent marker of the risk of developing coronary artery disease and how its measurement allows a more accurate assessment of the prognosis of the disease Methods for noninvasive determination of vascular stiffness by pulse wave propagation velocity, central pulse pressure level, and index of pulse pressure increase in the aorta allows to define formation of high-risk groups for the purpose of its further correction.