title: [Influence of subclinical atherosclerosis on diastolic function in individuals free of cardiovascular disease].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  it is plausible that subclinical atherosclerosis alters coronary reserve and impairs diastolic function of the left ventricle. However, the relationship between subclinical stages of atherosclerosis and diastolic function has not been established in subjects free of cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to test the hypothesis that subclinical atherosclerosis has a negative association with diastolic function.
  
  
  METHODS
  individuals > 35 years old, free of cardiovascular disease, with normal blood pressure and negative treadmill stress test, were selected to have common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) assessed by ultrasound and parameters of diastolic function by echocardiography, primarily tissue Doppler E'/A' ratio.
  
  
  RESULTS
  forty-eight subjects were studied, aged 56 ± 10 years, 67% females. Composite common carotid IMT had a significant negative correlation with tissue Doppler E'/A' ratio (r = - 0.437, p = 0.002). Individuals in the fourth quartile of IMT had a significant lower tissue Doppler E'/A' ratio (0.76 ± 0.25), as compared with the first (1.2 ± 0.29), second (1.2 ± 0.36) and third quartiles (1.1 ± 0.25) - p = 0.002. Composite common carotid IMT in the fourth quartile (> 0.8 mm) independently predicted E'/A' ratio (p = 0.02), after adjustment for potentially confounding variables, such as age, female gender, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol and Framingham Risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  early stage of subclinical atherosclerotic disease is negatively associated with diastolic function parameters in healthy individuals, regardless of age and clinical characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Fundação de Desenvolvimento de Pesquisas da Bahia. marisma@@cardiol.br
authors.forename: Maristela Magnavita Oliveira
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Marília Galeffi
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Joaquim Antônio Dos
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Reis Neto
authors.forename: Luis Claudio
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Correia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*