Aortic stiffness for the detection of preclinical left ventricular diastolic dysfunction: pulse wave velocity versus pulse pressure.
OBJECTIVE
An age-dependent relationship between aortic and left ventricular (LV) stiffening has been observed in community-based adults. Our aim was to compare the performances of wave reflection-dependent (pulse pressure) and independent [carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV)] indexes of aortic stiffness to detect preclinical LV diastolic dysfunction.


METHODS
In this case-control study, a stratified subsample of participants of a population-based echocardiographic survey with LV ejection fraction higher than 45% and without overt heart failure was randomly selected to undergo assessment of brachial blood pressure, LV diastolic function by Doppler echocardiography, and estimation of central aortic pressures and PWV by applanation tonometry.


RESULTS
Of the 233 subjects (mean age 73 +/- 6 years, 54% men), 84 had normal diastolic function, 99 had mild diastolic dysfunction, and 50 had moderate or severe diastolic dysfunction. Brachial pulse pressure, central pulse pressure, and PWV progressively increased according to the severity of diastolic dysfunction, independent of age and sex. The overall performance of PWV was superior to brachial pulse pressure [area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC): 0.70 versus 0.59, respectively; P = 0.005] and central pulse pressure (AUC: 0.70 versus 0.56, respectively; P = 0.001) for the detection of any diastolic dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
PWV appeared to be superior to central and brachial pulse pressure for the detection of diastolic dysfunction in older adults with 'preserved' LV ejection fraction.
Abhayaratna
Walter P
WP
Academic Unit of Internal Medicine, The Canberra Hospital, Canberra, Australia. walter.abhayaratna@act.gov.au
Srikusalanukul
Wichat
W
Budge
Marc M
MM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology