The relationship between ambulatory arterial stiffness index and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in HFpEF: a prospective observational study

Background The relationship between ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is unknown. We aimed to investigate whether increased AASI was related to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with HFpEF. Methods We prospective enrolled consecutive patients with HFpEF in Chongqing, China. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24h-ABPM) and echocardiography were performed in each patient. AASI was obtained through individual 24h-ABPM. The relationship between AASI and left ventricular diastolic function was analyzed. Results A total of 91 patients with HFpEF were included. The mean age was 68.7±13.9 years and 54 (59%) were women. The patients were divided into two groups according to the upper normal border of AASI (0.55). AASI > 0.55 group were more likely to be older, to have higher mean systolic blood pressure and worsen left ventricular diastolic function than AASI group ≤ 0.55. AASI was closely positive related to the diastolic function parameters, including mean E/e’ (r = 0.290, P = 0.005), septal E/e’ (r = 0.237, P = 0.024), lateral E/e’ (r = 0.295, P = 0.004) and E (r = 0.262, P = 0.012). After adjusting for conventional risk factors, AASI was still an independent risk factors of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with HFpEF (odds ratio: 3.261, 95%CI: 1.099-9.673, P=0.033). Conclusion Increased AASI was independent associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with HFpEF.