Relations of central and brachial blood pressure to left ventricular hypertrophy and geometry: the Strong Heart Study.
OBJECTIVE
We previously demonstrated stronger relations of central vs. brachial blood pressure, particularly pulse pressure, to carotid artery hypertrophy and extent of atherosclerosis. Data regarding the relative impacts of central and brachial pressures on left ventricular hypertrophy and geometry are limited.


METHODS
Echocardiography and radial applanation tonometry were performed in American Indian participants in the 4th Strong Heart Study examination. Left ventricular mass was calculated using an anatomically validated formula and adjusted for height. Brachial blood pressure was measured according to a standardized protocol. Central pressures were derived using a generalized transfer function.


RESULTS
Of 2585 participants in the analysis, 60% were women, 21% had diabetes and 33% were hypertensive; the mean age was 40 +/- 17 years. All blood pressure variables were significantly related to left ventricular absolute and relative wall thicknesses and left ventricular mass index (all P < 0.001), with considerable variation in correlation coefficients (r = 0.135-0.432). Central and brachial systolic pressures were uniformly more strongly related to left ventricular wall thicknesses, diastolic diameter and mass index than their respective pulse pressures (all P < 0.005 by z statistics). Left ventricular relative wall thickness and mass index were more strongly related to central than brachial pressures.


CONCLUSIONS
Left ventricular hypertrophy is more strongly related to systolic pressure than to pulse pressure. Furthermore central pressures are more strongly related than brachial pressures to concentric left ventricular geometry. These data suggest that absolute (systolic) pressure is more important in stimulating left ventricular hypertrophy and remodeling, whereas pulsatile stress (pulse pressure) is more important in causing vascular hypertrophy and atherosclerosis.
Roman
Mary J
MJ
Division of Cardiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York 10021, USA. mroman@med.cornell.edu
Okin
Peter M
PM
Kizer
Jorge R
JR
Lee
Elisa T
ET
Howard
Barbara V
BV
Devereux
Richard B
RB
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001916:Brachial Artery; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007198:Indians, North American; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011674:Pulse; D017534:Radial Artery; D014481:United States; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling; D055815:Young Adult