Key result
Ambulatory arterial stiffness index was an independent predictor of impaired global longitudinal strain in hypertensive patients (Beta = 0.3; CI 0.2-12; P=0.04).
Why the study?
Increased arterial stiffness is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients, but the relationship between ambulatory arterial stiffness index and subclinical LV systolic dysfunction measured by 2-D speckle-tracking echocardiography remains to be assessed.
Does ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) predict subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients?
Cross-Sectional (n=51)
Does ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) predict subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients?
Ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) is an independent predictor of subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction, as assessed by global longitudinal strain, in hypertensive patients.
AASI may flag subclinical LV dysfunction via GLS in hypertension; leaves open its incremental value beyond standard ABPM parameters.
BACKGROUND: Increased arterial stiffness is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among hypertensive patients. OBJECTIVES: To assess the relationship between ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) and subclinical left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction assessed by 2-D speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE). METHODS: We enrolled 70 consecutive patients with hypertension. All patients were evaluated for parameters of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) including AASI. From those patients, 51 underwent conventional echocardiography as well as 2-D STE to assess for subclinical LV systolic dysfunction defined by global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients (n = 51) was 46.3 ± 12.3 years, women represented 59%. Study population were divided into two groups according to blood pressure control as defined by ABPM; controlled (n = 23), and uncontrolled (n = 28). Baseline characteristics were comparable between both groups. There were significant differences in both daytime and night-time mean ABPM (P < 0.05). Posterior wall thickness, as well as LV relative wall thickness were significantly higher in uncontrolled patients (P < 0.05 for each). AASI was significantly, but moderately correlated to GLS. Most ABPM parameters were elevated with the higher AASI values (AASI ≥0.5). Significantly more uncontrolled hypertensive patients were encountered as well. Interestingly, sex and AASI were predictors of impaired GLS by univariate linear regression analysis; however, AASI was the only independent predictor of impaired GLS on multivariate analysis (Beta = 0.3, CI = 0.2--12, and P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: AASI might predict subclinical LV systolic dysfunction as assessed by global longitudinal strain. Further wide-scale studies should further explore this intriguing hypothesis.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Ahmed et al. (2019) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=51). Ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) was evaluated on Impaired global longitudinal strain (GLS) (Beta 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-12, p=0.04). Ambulatory arterial stiffness index was an independent predictor of impaired global longitudinal strain in hypertensive patients (Beta = 0.3; CI 0.2-12; P=0.04).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: