title: Relationship between aortic stiffness and the left ventricular function in patients with prediabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several studies have shown that arterial stiffness and ventricular dysfunction are increased in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Aortic stiffness (AS) reflects the mechanical tension and elasticity of the aorta, and increased aortic stiffness is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of aortic stiffness and its relationship with the left ventricular (LV) function in patients with prediabetes and healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study groups were composed of 50 patients with prediabetes and 47 healthy adults with similar demographic characteristics. The LV systolic and diastolic functions were assessed using standard two dimensional (2D) echocardiography, M-mode echocardiography, pulsed-wave (PW) echocardiography and tissue Doppler echocardiography. The degree of aortic strain and distensibility were calculated based on the aortic diameters measured on M-mode echocardiography at a level 3 cm above the aortic valve and the blood pressure values obtained on sphygmomanometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences between the prediabetic and control groups in the degree of aortic strain (4.7 ± 2.8% vs. 14.9 ± 4.5%; respectively, p<0.001) and distensibility (2.0 ± 1.5 vs. 6.8 ± 2.3; 10(-3) cm(2) dyn(-1), respectively, p<0.001). In addition, significant differences were observed between the patient and control groups in the parameters of the LV systolic and diastolic functions. The left atrial diameter was significantly larger in the prediabetics than in the controls (35.9 ± 3.9 vs. 33.7 ± 4.2; respectively, p=0.027).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AS is increased in patients with prediabetes. In addition, there is a significant relationship between the degree of aortic stiffness and the LV function in this patient population. Therefore, the aortic elasticity parameters calculated on 2D echocardiography are useful for predicting early cardiovascular risks in prediabetics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ankara Ataturk Education and Research Hospital, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdullah Nabi
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ayhan
authors.forename: Ömer Faruk
authors.initials: ÖF
authors.lastname: Çiçek
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akçay
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Durmaz
authors.forename: Telat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keles
authors.forename: Bekir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Çakır
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*