Sex-specific predictors of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in untreated hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the sex-specific differences in left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (DD) predictors. We hypothesized that arterial stiffness (AS) may play a different role in the etiology of LV DD in hypertensive men and postmenopausal women, acting independently from other established predictors of this condition, such as age, obesity, diabetes mellitus, LV remodeling, and systolic function.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to analyze the sex-specific differences in AS and other predictors of LV DD in men and postmenopausal women with untreated hypertension (HTN).


METHODS
The study included 144 patients (63 postmenopausal women and 81 men, mean age 62.7±6.7 years) with previously untreated HTN and no history of cardiovascular diseases. All patients were subjected to detailed echocardiography, vascular ultrasound, and high-resolution echotracking (eTracking) of carotid arteries.


RESULTS
In the multivariate analysis, concomitant diabetes mellitus turned out to be an independent predictor of LV DD in women (P=0.02). In turn, two independent predictors of LV DD have been identified in men: S'-tissue Doppler-derived peak LV longitudinal systolic shortening velocity (P=0.001) and β, beta stiffness index (P=0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
There are sex differences in the predictors of LV DD in untreated HTN. In postmenopausal women, LV DD is mostly determined by diabetes, while in men, it is determined by S', reflecting LV systolic longitudinal function, and β, a parameter of AS.
Department of Cardiology, T Marciniak Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
Joanna
J
Jaroch
Division of Cardiology, San Antonio Hospital, San Daniele del Friuli, Udine, Italy.
Olga
O
Vriz
Department of Cardiology, T Marciniak Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
Zbigniew
Z
Bociąga
Division of Cardiology, San Antonio Hospital, San Daniele del Friuli, Udine, Italy.
Caterina
C
Driussi
Department of Cardiology, T Marciniak Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
Maria
M
Łoboz-Rudnicka
Department of Cardiology, T Marciniak Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
Barbara
B
Rzyczkowska
Department of Cardiology, T Marciniak Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland; Health Science Faculty, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
Krystyna
K
Łoboz-Grudzień
D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011044:Poland; D012737:Sex Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology
hypertension; left ventricular diastolic dysfunction; sex differences