title: Cardiac Time Intervals Measured by Tissue Doppler Imaging M-mode: Association With Hypertension, Left Ventricular Geometry, and Future Ischemic Cardiovascular Diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We hypothesized that the cardiac time intervals reveal reduced myocardial function in persons with hypertension and are strong predictors of future ischemic cardiovascular diseases in the general population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a large community-based population study, cardiac function was evaluated in 1915 participants by using both conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). The cardiac time intervals, including the isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), isovolumic contraction time (IVCT), and ejection time (ET), were obtained by TDI M-mode through the mitral leaflet. IVCT/ET, IVRT/ET, and myocardial performance index [MPI=(IVRT+IVCT)/ET] were calculated. After multivariable adjustment for clinical variables the IVRT, IVRT/ET, and MPI, remained significantly impaired in persons with hypertension (n=826) compared with participants without hypertension (n=1082). Additionally, they displayed a significant dose-response relationship, between increasing severity of elevated blood pressure and increasing left ventricular mass index (P<0.001 for all). Further, during follow-up of a median of 10.7 years, 435 had an ischemic cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, or stroke). The IVRT/ET and MPI were powerful and independent predictors of future cardiovascular disease, especially in participants with known hypertension. They provide prognostic information incremental to clinical variables from the Framingham Risk Score, the SCORE risk chart, and the European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology risk chart.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cardiac time intervals identify impaired cardiac function in individuals with hypertension, not only independent of conventional risk factors but also in participants with a normal conventional echocardiographic examination. The IVRT/ET and MPI are independent predictors of future cardiovascular disease especially in participants with known hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Denmark (T.B., R.M., J.S.J.) The Copenhagen City Heart Study, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (T.B., R.M., P.S., J.S.J.) Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (T.B., J.S.J.).
authors.forename: Tor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Biering-Sørensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Denmark (T.B., R.M., J.S.J.) The Copenhagen City Heart Study, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (T.B., R.M., P.S., J.S.J.).
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mogelvang
authors.affiliation: The Copenhagen City Heart Study, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (T.B., R.M., P.S., J.S.J.).
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schnohr
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Denmark (T.B., R.M., J.S.J.) The Copenhagen City Heart Study, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (T.B., R.M., P.S., J.S.J.) Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (T.B., J.S.J.).
authors.forename: Jan Skov
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013997:Time Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
keywords: cardiac time intervals; hypertension; ischemic cardiovascular disease; risk‐stratification; tissue Doppler imaging