Reduced Systemic Arterial Compliance Is Associated with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Diastolic Dysfunction in Older People

OBJECTIVES: To study the relationship between left ventricular diastolic function and systemic arterial compliance in the older population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 67 older volunteer participants (aged 67 +/- 5.4 years). MEASUREMENTS: Systemic arterial compliance (SAC) was measured using applanation tonometry and aortic velocimetry, and diastolic function was assessed using Doppler filling. Left ventricular mass was determined echocardiographically. RESULTS: There were significant univariate correlations between diastolic filling, as measured by E/A ratio, systemic arterial compliance (0.34, P < .01), and left ventricular mass (-0.41, P < .001). In multiple regression analysis, using diastolic filling as the dependent variable and heart rate, age, left ventricular mass corrected for body surface area, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and arterial compliance as independent variables, the major determinants of diastolic filling were heart rate, left ventricular mass, and diastolic blood pressure. Arterial compliance did not make a significant independent contribution. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a positive relationship between diastolic filling and arterial compliance in the older population. However, in multiple regression analysis, heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, and left ventricular mass were the independent predictors of diastolic filling (E/A), whereas arterial compliance was not. These findings imply that therapeutic modulation of aortic stiffness would not, of itself, contribute to improvement in diastolic function.