Association Between Ventricular-Arterial Coupling and C-Reactive Protein in Patients at Risk for Heart Failure

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are implicated in heart failure (HF) pathogenesis.
• The relationship between VAC and CRP in HF-at-risk populations is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) in hypertensive patients.
• To determine if hs-CRP is an independent predictor of VAC in individuals at risk for heart failure.

Main Methods:

• Ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) was evaluated using the arterial elastance (Ea) to left ventricular end-systolic elastance (Ees) ratio (Ea/Ees).
• The noninvasive single-beat method was employed in 112 hypertensive patients.
• High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were analyzed in both log-transformed and categorical forms.

Main Results:

• Univariate analysis revealed associations between both log-transformed and categorical hs-CRP and Ea/Ees.
• Categorical hs-CRP demonstrated an independent association with Ea/Ees (β=0.27, P=0.003).
• This independence was maintained after adjusting for atherosclerotic risk factors, cardiac function, and vascular function.

Conclusions:

• High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is independently associated with ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) as assessed by the Ea/Ees ratio.
• These findings suggest hs-CRP may play a role in the mechanical alterations of the heart and vasculature in patients at risk of heart failure.