Diastolic dysfunction is associated with sedentary leisure time physical activity and smoking in females only

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction with preserved systolic function (DD-PSF) is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Population-based surveys studying the associations between DD-PSF and lifestyle-associated risk factors, such as leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and smoking, are scarce. Thus, the aims were to explore the associations between DD-PSF and LTPA and smoking, employing optimal echocardiographic techniques.

Cross-sectional study conducted from 2001 to 2003.

The study was conducted in a random sample of a rural Swedish population.

Men and women of 30-75 years of age were consecutively invited for conventional echocardiography and tissue velocity imaging (n = 1149). Structured questionnaires and physical examinations were conducted using standardized methods.

DD-PSF was defined according to the European Society of Cardiology criteria excluding subjects with ejection fraction < 45%, or a self-reported history of heart failure.

Complete information was available in 500 men and 538 women. In a multivariate model, DD-PSF was independently associated with sedentary LTPA and smoking in females; sedentary LTPA odds ratio (OR) 2.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02 to 8.27, and smoking OR 3.42, 95% CI 1.35 to 8.64. The probability of identifying DD-PSF in females with a sedentary LTPA was 37% and increased to 80% if they also had hypertension and were obese.

Sedentary LTPA and smoking are independently associated with DD-PSF in females. Identification of a sedentary lifestyle in females increases the probability of diagnosing DD-PSF.