P5.19 STIFF ARTERIES, STIFF HEARTS?

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the relationship between arterial stiffness and diastolic function in healthy normotensive subjects. Methods: For this study, 43 male (40±10 years) and 64 female (40±9 years) subjects were recruited. All were lifelong non-smokers, normolipidaemic, normoglycaemic and had normal 24-hour blood pressure responses (SBP\DBP <140\90). For each subject, metabolic profile and anthropometric measurements were recorded. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured to assess arterial stiffness. Early/late mitral valve filling velocity (MV E/A) and isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) was used to assess diastolic function. Results: The indices of diastolic function, LV IVRT & MV E/A ratio, and 24-hour ambulatory systolic & diastolic blood pressure were significantly correlated with PWV. In addition, age, anthropometric and metabolic values, such as waist/height ratio, fasting glucose (Glucose Fast), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were also significantly correlated with PWV (Table 1). In a multiple regression analysis, age, 24-hour DBP, and MV E/A ratio remained independent predictors of PWV. Univariate Correlation with PWV n=107 r P Age 0.45 <0.0001 BMI 0.18 0.06 Waist/Height 0.22 <0.05 GlucoseFast 0.22 <0.05 HbA1c 0.26 <0.01 24-hour SBP 0.28 <0.01 24-hour DBP 0.32 <0.001 LV IVRT 0.28 <0.01 MV E/A −0.44 <0.0001 Table 1Spearman’s univariate correlation with PWV. Conclusion: Left ventricular diastolic function is associated with arterial stiffness even in “healthy” normotensive subjects, suggesting, that changes in arterial and left ventricular walls occur in parallel.