Background and Objectives: Arterial compliance is a well-known factor affecting left ventricular structure and function. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a reliable indicator of arterial compliance. To elucidate the association between the arterial stiffness and the left ventricular (LV) stiffness, we investigated the relationship between pulse wave velocity and the echocardiographic parameters of LV relaxation.
Subjects and Methods: For 495 (156 normotensives, 129 prehypertensives, 121 untreated hypertensives, 89 hypertensives on anti-hypertensive drug, age of 59.8±12.6(21-88)) subjects, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and echocardiographic indices for relaxation abnormality, i.e. transmitral E, A, E/A, DT, IVRT were measured. Relaxation abnormality was defined by E/A < 1 or DT >240ms in the younger (<55 years), E/A<0.8 and DT > 240ms in the older(>=55). Group I was subjects with normal relaxation of the left ventricle (n=256) and group II was subjects with abnormal relaxation of LV (n=239).
Results: In multiple linear regression analysis, PWVmean (cm/sec) was independently correlated with pulse pressure, age, diastolic blood pressure, body weight, waist-hip ratio (WHR), gender, and heart rate (R²=0.503, SEE=258.476). Transmitral E was correlated with mean PWV, age, WHR, body mass index (BMI), and pulse pressure (R²=0.177, SEE=16.364). Transmitral A was correlated with meanPWV, height, heart rate, pulse pressure, WHR, and age (R²=0.295, SEE=13.813). DT was correlated with age, meanPWV, WHR, and gender (R²=0.163, SEE=33.840). IVRT was correlated with age, meanPWV, and WHR (R²=0.143, SEE=11.210). E/A was correlated with meanPWV, age, WHR, heart rate, height, and gender (R²=0.387, SEE=0.276). Logistic regression analysis showed body weight, heart rate, meanPWV, and WHR were independent factors for relaxation abnormality of LV. MeanPWV was higher (1408.2±260.6 vs 1703.9±393.94, p<0.0001)in group II (n=239) than group I (n=256).
Conclusion: Pulse wave velocity is indepently associated with relaxation abnormality of left ventricle as well as other factors such as body weight, heart rate, waist-hip ratio in a rural Korean population including hypertensive patients.
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