Related Experiment Videos
Hematocrit and left ventricular mass: the Framingham Heart study
Manish G Amin1, Hocine Tighiouart, Daniel E Weiner
1Division of Clinical Care Research, Department of Medicine, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
|April 6, 2004
Summary
Lower hematocrit (Hct) is linked to increased left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in men and postmenopausal women without prior cardiovascular disease. This association suggests a potential cardiovascular risk factor in seemingly healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
- Echocardiography
Background:
- Anemia is a potential independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
- Hematocrit (Hct) may be associated with left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between hematocrit (Hct) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
- To examine these associations in individuals without diagnosed hypertension or cardiovascular disease using Framingham Heart Study data.
Main Methods:
- Linear and logistic regression analyses were employed to assess the association between Hct, LVMI, and LVH.
- Analyses were stratified by gender and menopausal status in women.
Main Results:
- A lower Hct was associated with higher LVMI in men and postmenopausal women after adjusting for confounders.
- Each 3% decrease in Hct correlated with a 2.6 g/m higher LVMI in men and 1.8 g/m higher LVMI in postmenopausal women.
- The lowest Hct quartile showed an increased odds ratio for LVH in men (2.0) and postmenopausal women (1.4).
Conclusions:
- A lower hematocrit is associated with echocardiographically determined left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and increased left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in men and postmenopausal women.
- These findings suggest a potential link between hematocrit levels and subclinical cardiac changes in a population without known cardiovascular disease.
- The clinical significance of this association requires further investigation.