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Hypertension and smoking are associated with reduced regional left ventricular function in asymptomatic: individuals

Boaz D Rosen1, Mohammed F Saad, Steven Shea

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology
|March 21, 2006
PubMed

Insights

High diastolic blood pressure and smoking are linked to reduced regional left ventricular (LV) function in asymptomatic individuals. This study highlights key cardiovascular risk factors affecting heart muscle performance before symptoms appear.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Congestive heart failure in the U.S. and Europe is primarily caused by coronary artery disease.
  • The impact of traditional coronary artery disease risk factors on myocardial function in asymptomatic individuals remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between traditional cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking) and regional left ventricular (LV) function in asymptomatic individuals.
  • To test the hypothesis that reduced LV function correlates with these risk factors.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort.
  • Analyzed tagged cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in 1,184 participants (aged 45-84).
  • Quantified regional LV function using peak systolic circumferential strain (Ecc) in coronary artery territories (LAD, LCX, RCA) and assessed associations with risk factors via multiple linear regression.

Main Results:

  • Elevated diastolic blood pressure (DBP) correlated with lower Ecc, showing a dose-response relationship.
  • Smokers exhibited reduced Ecc in LAD and RCA territories compared to non-smokers, with a pack-year dose-response observed.
  • Combined diastolic hypertension and smoking demonstrated a more significant reduction in regional LV function.

Conclusions:

  • Higher diastolic blood pressure is associated with decreased regional left ventricular function in asymptomatic individuals.
  • Smoking is also linked to reduced regional LV function, with a dose-response effect.
  • These findings underscore the impact of modifiable risk factors on subclinical cardiac dysfunction.
Abstract

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