Brachial Artery Hyperemic Blood Flow Velocity Is Related to Concentric Remodelling of the Left Ventricle: 1c.04

Objective: Cardiovascular risk factors and carotid atherosclerosis relates to the blood flow velocity pattern in the brachial artery during induced hyperemia. Recently, this correlation proved to be particularly strong when using the hyperemic systolic to diastolic blood flow velocity (SDFV) ratio. In this study, we further investigate the relation of SDFV ratio to echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Design and Methods: In the Prospective Investigation of Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study, 1016 70-year-olds participated providing study-data. Recordings of blood flow velocity during hyperemia of the brachial artery by Doppler were analysed. Echocardiography was performed allowing analysis of LVH, as graded into four different groups. Results: The SDFV ratio was increased (p = 0.0008), in concentric remodelling (p = 0.006) and in concentric hypertrophy (p = 0.001) but not in eccentric LVH (p = 0.12) when compared to the group with normal left ventricular (LV) findings. The correlation was valid whether adjustment for gender only or also for manual SBP, DBP, bloodglucose, body mass index (BMI) and hypertensive treatment was made. Conclusion: In the present study we found that the hyperemic systolic to diastolic blood flow velocity (SDFV) ratio is related to concentric remodelling of the left ventricle.