title: On cross-sectional associations of leukocyte telomere length with cardiac systolic, diastolic and vascular function: the Asklepios study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic telomere length has been associated with measures of diastolic function, vascular stiffness and left ventricular mass mainly in smaller, patient-specific settings and not in a general population. In this study we describe the applicability of these findings in a large, representative population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length (PBL TL) was measured using telomere restriction fragment analysis in the young to middle-aged (>2500 volunteers, ∼35 to 55 years old) Asklepios study population, free from overt cardiovascular disease. Subjects underwent extensive echocardiographic, hemodynamic and biochemical phenotyping. After adjusting for relevant confounders (age, sex, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index and use of antihypertensive drugs) we found no associations between PBL TL and left ventricular mass index (P = 0.943), ejection fraction (P = 0.933), peak systolic septal annular motion (P = 0.238), pulse wave velocity (P = 0.971) or pulse pressure (P = 0.999). In contrast, our data showed positive associations between PBL TL and parameters of LV filling: the transmitral flow early (E) to late (A) velocity ratio (E/A-ratio; P<0.001), the ratio of early (e') to late (a') mitral annular velocities (e'/a'-ratio; P = 0.012) and isovolumic relaxation time (P = 0.015). Interestingly, these associations were stronger in women than in men and were driven by associations between PBL TL and the late diastolic components (A and a').
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a generally healthy, young to middle-aged population, PBL TL is not related to LV mass or systolic function, but might be associated with an altered LV filling pattern, especially in women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematical Modelling, Statistics and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Simon L I J
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Denil
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ernst R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Rietzschel
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: De Buyzere
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Caroline M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Van Daele
authors.affiliation: IbiTech-bioMMeda, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Segers
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Bacquer
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematical Modelling, Statistics and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Criekinge
authors.affiliation: Bimetra, Clinical Research Center Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bekaert
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thierry C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Gillebert
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematical Modelling, Statistics and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Meyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism*; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*