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Relationship between augmentation index and left ventricular diastolic function in healthy women and men
Haruhiko Higashi1, Hideki Okayama2, Makoto Saito3
1Department of Cardiology, Kitaishikai Hospital, Ozu, Japan; Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, Hypertension & Nephrology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Japan;
Insights
Arterial stiffness impacts heart function differently in men and women. This study found a stronger link between arterial stiffness and left ventricular diastolic function in healthy women compared to men.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Biology
- Echocardiography
Background:
- Investigating sex-based differences in cardiovascular health is crucial.
- Arterial stiffness and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function are key indicators of cardiovascular health.
- Understanding their interplay in healthy individuals can reveal early signs of cardiovascular risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how sex influences the relationship between arterial stiffness and LV diastolic function.
- To assess arterial stiffness using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and carotid augmentation index (AIx).
- To evaluate LV diastolic function via echocardiography in a healthy cohort.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous echocardiography and arterial stiffness measurements were performed on 446 subjects.
- A subgroup of 95 men and 72 age-matched women without atherosclerotic risk factors were analyzed.
- Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and carotid augmentation index (AIx) were measured as arterial stiffness parameters.
Main Results:
- Peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e') correlated significantly with both baPWV and AIx in both sexes.
- The ratio of early diastolic mitral flow velocity to e' (E/e') showed significant correlation with arterial stiffness parameters only in women.
- Carotid AIx independently predicted e' in women, but not in men.
Conclusions:
- The correlation between carotid augmentation index (AIx) and left ventricular diastolic function is more pronounced in women than in men.
- These findings highlight potential sex-specific mechanisms in the development of cardiovascular dysfunction.
- This suggests sex differences in the early stages of arterial stiffness impacting cardiac function.
Background:
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sex on the correlation between arterial stiffness and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in a healthy population without significant atherosclerosis.
Methods:
Subjects (n = 446) who had simultaneous echocardiography and arterial stiffness recordings were enrolled. From these subjects, 95 men and 72 age-matched women without atherosclerotic risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus) were included in the analysis. We measured brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and carotid augmentation index (AIx) as arterial stiffness parameters.
Results:
Peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e') was significantly correlated with baPWV (men: r = -0.428, P < 0.001; women: r = -0.515, P < 0.001) and carotid AIx (men: r = -0.295, P = 0.004; women: r = -0.558, P < 0.001). The ratio of early diastolic mitral flow velocity to e' (E/e') was significantly correlated with both arterial stiffness parameters in women but not men. Multivariable regression analysis revealed carotid AIx (β = -0.257; P = 0.02) was a significant independent predictor of e' in women but not men.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that the correlation between AIx and LV diastolic function is stronger in women than men in a healthy population.
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