Doppler indexes of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in relation to the arterial stiffness in a general population

Abstract

Our study underscored the importance of arterial characteristics as a mediator of LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction. We demonstrated an age-dependent relationship between radial strain and indexes of arterial stiffness.

Sex-specific differences in cardiac maladaptation to hypertension and arterial stiffening

“…5) [42,69]. Radial strain increased significantly with higher central pulse pressure, haemodynamic load components, and PWV in middle-aged participants only, whereas it decreased with these indexes in subjects above 70 years old [42,69].…”

“…Moreover, in community-based cohorts, in both men and women LV longitudinal strain declined independently with an increase in the steady BP component (i.e. MAP) in continuous analysis [42,62]. Also, several measures of aortic stiffening were associated with worse LV longitudinal deformation, even after accounting for important confounders.…”

“…4) [24]. This higher sensitivity of LV diastolic function of women to increased pulsatile load might be explained by the fact that women, as compared to men, present on average higher aortic stiffness [40,42], enhanced LV systolic performance [43][44][45], higher preload sensitivity, and lower LV compliance [43]. First, BP, aortic stiffness, and wave reflection increase more prominently with age in women than in men [44,46].…”

“…In fact, longitudinal systolic dysfunction is already observed in the early stages of myocardial maladaptation following a chronically increased load [42,57].…”

“…5) [42,69]. Radial strain increased significantly with higher central pulse pressure, haemodynamic load components, and PWV in middle-aged participants only, whereas it decreased with these indexes in subjects above 70 years old [42,69]. Overall, a chronic rise in afterload and, in turn, LV load might thus enhance the circumferential/radial systolic performance of the left ventricle initially as a compensation for the decline in longitudinal deformation and might only lead to an impairment of radial (and circumferential) deformation in the long run [25].…”