Associations of Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity With Left Ventricular Geometry and Diastolic Function in Untreated Hypertensive Patients

Association of endothelial function and limb artery indices with coronary artery stenosis severity in patients with hypertension

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular events. This study aims to analyse the association of endothelial function and limb artery indices with coronary artery stenosis (CAS) severity in hypertension based on easily accessible and detailed clinical information, and to help accurately identify high-risk groups and avoid missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis.

METHODS

Admission data of 1,375 consecutive hypertensive patients complicated with suspected coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CHD) from September 2020 to August 2021 in China-Japan Friendship Hospital were retrospectively assessed. All candidates underwent coronary angiography for screening. A total of 600 eligible patients were classified in the CHD group (n = 359) and non-CHD group (n = 241) based on their coronary angiography results. Subjects in the CHD group were further assigned to 'high stenosis' (n = 178) and 'low stenosis' (n = 181) subgroups based on the median value of Gensini score. Endothelial function and limb artery indicators, including brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD), ankle-brachial index (ABI) and brachial-ankle pulse velocity (baPWV), were examined and compared between subgroups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were carried out to select independent risk factors of CAS severity in hypertension. A predictive equation was conducted according to the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis to make clinical practice easier. As the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve had been plotted, the predictive ability of endothelial function and limb artery indicators in CAS severity in hypertension was detected by the area under the curve (AUC).

RESULTS

In patients with hypertension, the FMD (p = 0.023), ABI (p < 0.001) and baPWV (p < 0.001) of CHD patients appeared substantially different from the non-CHD patients. Furthermore, the ABI (p < 0.001) and baPWV (p = 0.032) both independently associated with CAS severity in hypertensive patients with CHD. Based on the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis with CAS severity as a dependent variable, a predictive equation of baPWV, ABI and FMD was developed: combined coefficient = Logit(p)=5.531-0.218*FMD-7.019*ABI + 0.244*baPWV. From the combined coefficients of baPWV, ABI and FMD, the largest AUC was 0.800, suggesting a powerful predictive value of CAS severity in hypertensive patients, followed by ABI (AUC = 0.747, 95%CI 0.693-0.796), baPWV (AUC = 0.704, 95%CI 0.648-0.756) and FMD (AUC = 0.588, 95%CI 0.529-0.645).

CONCLUSION

This study shows that baPWV, ABI and FMD are independent risk factors for CHD, of which, baPWV and ABI are strongly associated with CAS severity in hypertensive patients. The predictive ability of CHD in hypertensive patients may be enhanced through combining the three endothelial function and limb artery indicators. The results may help to facilitate clinical decision-making during treatment and management of coronary artery disease.

Impact of Hypertension on Left Ventricular Geometry and Diastolic Function in Africa: Results from the Population-Based TAnve Health (TAHES) Cohort Study

High blood pressure leads to morphologic changes and functional alterations of the myocardial structure. Transthoracic echocardiography is of great clinical interest to evaluate these alterations, using reference values proposed by the American Society of Echocardiography/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging, largely based on studies in Caucasian Whites. We aimed to assess the impact of hypertension on echocardiographic parameters in a sub-Saharan African community, using ethnic-specific reference values. This study is part of the TAnve HEalth Study, a population-based prospective cohort study initiated in 2015 in the district of Tanve, Republic of Benin. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg and/or currently taking antihypertensive medications. All participants had a transthoracic echocardiography. The patterns of diastolic dysfunction and left ventricular (LV) geometry were defined from 486 subjects in the cohort, free from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Of all participants, 318 (65% women, median age 48 years) had hypertension. Systolic blood pressure correlated significantly (p <0.0001) with LV mass (r = 0.28), wall thickness (r = 0.25), isovolumic relaxation time (r = 0.27), E/A ratio (r = -0.35), lateral e' velocity (r= -0.41), and E/E' ratio (r = 0.39). Ventricular geometry was normal in only 22% of participants with hypertension when using the American Society of Echocardiography/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging reference values, versus 69% with ethnic-specific reference ranges. The severity of hypertension was associated with ventricular geometry abnormalities. The prevalence of diastolic dysfunction was 14.5% (confidence interval 10.6% to 18.4%), including relaxation impairment (9%) and pseudonormal pattern (6%). Thus, correct assessment of the repercussions of hypertension on LV geometry in Black Africans requires ethnic-specific reference values.

Arterial stiffness and its associations with left ventricular diastolic function according to heart failure types

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the characteristics of arterial stiffness in heart failure (HF). This study was performed to compare the degree of arterial stiffness and its association with left ventricular (LV) diastolic function among three groups: control subjects, patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

METHODS

A total of 83 patients with HFrEF, 68 patients with HFpEF, and 84 control subjects were analyzed. All HF patients had a history of hospitalization for HF treatment. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) measurement and transthoracic echocardiography were performed at the same day in a stable condition.

RESULTS

The baPWV was significantly higher in patients with both HFrEF and HFpEF compared to control subjects (1,661 ± 390, 1,909 ± 466, and 1,477 ± 296 cm/sec, respectively; P < 0.05 for each). After adjustment of age, baPWV values were similar between patients with HFrEF and HFpEF (P = 0.948). In the multiple linear regression analysis, baPWV was significantly associated with both septal e' velocity (β = -0.360, P = 0.001) and E/e' (β = 0.344, P = 0.001). However, baPWV was not associated with either of the diastolic indices in HFrEF group. The baPWV was associated only with septal e' velocity (β = -0.429, P = 0.002) but not with E/e' in the HFpEF group in the same multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Although arterial stiffness was increased, its association with LV diastolic function was attenuated in HF patients compared to control subjects. The degree of arterial stiffening was similar between HFrEF and HFpEF.

Higher platelet count, even within normal range, is associated with increased arterial stiffness in young and middle-aged adults

Background: Platelet counts and mean platelet volume (MPV) are related to cardiovascular disease, but a thorough investigation into the connection between increased arterial stiffness, MPV, and platelet counts is lacking. This study aimed to explore the association of platelet count and MPV with arterial stiffness in young and middle-aged adults.

Methods: A total of 2464 participants who underwent health checkups at National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Taiwan from November 2018 to December 2019 were included. We excluded participants aged <18 or >50 years; who are pregnant; on medication for dyslipidemia; with abnormal platelet count, incomplete data, and past history of hematologic disorders. We examined the association of platelet counts and MPV values with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) levels and increased arterial stiffness.

Results: Platelet count was significantly higher in participants with increased arterial stiffness than in those without. The multiple linear regression model revealed that platelet counts were positively associated with baPWV levels (β = 1.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.96 to 2.80). In the binary logistic regression analysis, subjects in the higher platelet counts quartiles had a higher risk of developing increased arterial stiffness (Q2 vs. Q1: odds ratio (OR): 1.54, 95% CI: 1.05 to 2.27; Q3 vs. Q1: OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.06 to 2.33; and Q4 vs. Q1: OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.50 to 3.30). In contrast, MPV levels were not associated with arterial stiffness.

Conclusions: Platelet count in midlife was positively associated with baPWV levels. Participants in higher platelet quartiles were at risk for increased arterial stiffness.

Association between arterial stiffness and left ventricular diastolic function: A large population-based cross-sectional study

Background

The association between arterial stiffness and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function has been demonstrated in several studies, but the samples size in those studies was small. This study aims to verify this issue in a large number of study subjects.

Methods

A total of 7,013 consecutive participants (mean age 60.6 years and 43.3% female) who underwent both baPWV and transthoracic echocardiography were retrospectively analyzed. Subjects with significant cardiac structural abnormalities were excluded.

Results

There were significant correlations of baPWV with septal e′ velocity (r = – 0.408; P < 0.001), septal E/e′ (r = 0.349; P < 0.001), left atrial volume index (LAVI) (r = 0.122; P < 0.001) and maximal velocity of tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR Vmax) (r = 0.322; P < 0.001). The baPWV values increased proportionally with an increase in the number of LV diastolic indices meeting LV diastolic dysfunction criteria (P-for-trend < 0.001). In multivariable analyses with adjustment for confounding effects of various clinical covariates, higher baPWV was independently associated with septal e′ < 7 (odds ratio [OR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20–1.60; P < 0.001), septal E/e′ ≥ 15 (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.21–1.78; P < 0.001), and TR Vmax > 2.8 m/s (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.23–2.09; P < 0.001) but not with LAVI ≥ 34 mL/m² (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.76–1.03; P = 0.123).

Conclusions

Increased arterial stiffness, as measured by baPWV, was associated with abnormal diastolic function parameters in a large number of study participants, providing strong evidence to the existing data about ventricular-vascular coupling.

Sex-specific associations of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity with adverse cardiac remodeling and long-term cardiovascular outcome

BACKGROUND

It remains unclear whether the cardiovascular consequences of arterial stiffness differ by sex. This study aimed to investigate the sex-specific association of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) with adverse cardiac remodeling and cardiovascular outcome.

METHOD

We studied 11 767 patients (57.6% men) with cardiovascular risk factors, whose baPWV was measured. The primary endpoint was composite cardiovascular events. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses were performed to delineate the association of baPWV with echocardiography parameters and risks of cardiovascular events.

RESULTS

RCS curves showed that structural/functional echocardiography parameters gradually worsened with increasing baPWV more prominently in women than in men. The prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction increases with baPWV increase more steeply in women (P-for-interaction by sex <0.001). During the median follow-up of 3.64 years (interquartile interval, 1.56-5.38 years), 350 cardiovascular events (3.0%) and 155 deaths (1.3%) occurred. Cumulative cardiovascular events and deaths were significantly higher in patients with elevated baPWV in both sexes (P < 0.001). Cox analyses showed that the increase in baPWV was associated with the higher risks of cardiovascular events and deaths more strongly in women [cardiovascular events: men, adjusted hazard ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval (1.08-1.13), P < 0.001; women, adjusted hazard ratio 1.18, 95% confidence interval (1.13-1.24), P < 0.001 by 100 cm/s increase in baPWV; P-for-interaction by sex = 0.022].

CONCLUSION

The detrimental effects of baPWV on adverse cardiac remodeling and cardiovascular outcome were stronger in women than in men. The prognostic information provided by baPWV may be particularly crucial for women.

Relationship Between Subclinical Cardiovascular Diseases and Cardiac Morpho-Functional Parameters in Preclinical Stage A/B Heart Failure Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

PURPOSE

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common risk factor for cardiovascular disease which increases the risk of heart failure. This study aimed to determine whether clinical characteristics and subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) features are correlated with echocardiographic morpho-functional parameters of T2DM patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred and fifty-five T2DM patients without a history of coronary heart disease were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The demographic characteristics, glucose and lipid levels were assessed for each patient. Carotid ultrasonography and peripheral artery examination were performed to measure carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), carotid plaque, ankle-brachial index (ABI), brachial artery pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). Furthermore, echocardiography was conducted to evaluate cardiac morphology and systolic and diastolic function. The relationship between clinical characteristics, subclinical cardiovascular diseases, and cardiac morpho-functional parameters was explored with the Pearson and stepwise multivariable linear regression analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 255 subjects aged 18-80 years were enrolled in the study. Multiple regression analysis revealed that left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was correlated with age (β=0.463, p = 0.000) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (β=0.179, p = 0.003). Relative wall thickness (RWT) was related to cfPWV (β=0.006, p = 0.007) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (β=0.000, p = 0.036). In contrast, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was inversely related to cIMT (β=-0.925, p = 0.019). The ratio of the peak flow velocity of early diastole to atrial contraction (peak E/A) was correlated with age (β=-0.014, p = 0.000), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (β=-0.006, p = 0.001) and cfPWV (β=-0.025, p = 0.044).

CONCLUSION

In preclinical stage A/B heart failure adults with T2DM, age, BP, HOMA-IR, cfPWV and cIMT are correlated with cardiac morpho-functional parameters.

Relationship between vascular ageing and left ventricular geometry in patients with newly diagnosed primary aldosteronism

BACKGROUND

Changes in left ventricular (LV) geometry are early manifestations of cardiac damage. The relationship between vascular aging and LV geometry has been reported. However, in newly diagnosed primary aldosteronism (PA), with more severe target organ damage than essential hypertension, the relationship between vascular aging and LV geometry has never been described.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study among newly diagnosed PA from 1 January 2017 to 30 September 2021 at the Third Xiangya Hospital. The data of vascular aging parameters were collected, including ankle-brachial index (ABI), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Echocardiography data were collected to assess LV geometry patterns.

RESULTS

A total of 146 patients with newly diagnosed PA were included. The mean age was 44.77 ± 9.79 years, and 46.58% participants were women. Linear regression analysis adjusting all potential confounders showed that cIMT was significantly associated with LV mass index (LVMI) (β=0.164, P=0.028) and baPWV was significantly associated with relative wall thickness (RWT) (β= 0.00005, P=0.025). Multifactorial adjusted logistic regression analysis demonstrated that cIMT was significantly associated with LV hypertrophy (LVH) (OR=7.421, 95%CI: 1.717-815.688, P=0.021) and baPWV was significantly associated with LV concentric geometry (LVCG) (OR=1.003, 95%CI: 1.001-1.006, P=0.017).

CONCLUSION

baPWV was significantly associated with LVCG and cIMT was significantly associated with LVH in newly diagnosed PA. This study provides insights on the importance of baPWV measurement and cIMT measurement in early assessment of cardiac damage in newly diagnosed PA.

Comparison of the Association Between Arterial Stiffness Indices and Heart Failure in Patients With High Cardiovascular Risk: A Retrospective Study

Objective: Study findings of the relationship of each arterial stiffness index with incident heart failure (HF) are conflicting. We aimed to compare the association between the indices of arterial stiffness and the risk of HF. Methods: We analysed 3,034 patients from a prospective cohort that enrolled patients with high cardiovascular risk. They underwent brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), brachial pulse pressure (PP), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), and central PP measurements. Results: Over a median follow-up of 4.7 years (interquartile range, 3.4-5.8 years), 65 HF events occurred. The incidence rate of HF was 4.7 per 1,000 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI), 3.7-6.0]. There was no difference in baPWV in those with and without HF events (1,561 ± 401 and 1,520 ± 321 cm/s, respectively, P = 0.415); however, there was a significant difference in brachial PP (63.2 ± 16.9 vs. 52.3 ± 11.5 mmHg, P < 0.001), cfPWV (11.0 ± 3.1 vs. 9.4 ± 2.4 m/s, P < 0.001) and central PP (56.6 ± 19.9 vs. 42.9 ± 13.8 mmHg, P < 0.001). In the multivariable-adjusted model, brachial PP [hazards ratio (HR) per standard deviation unit (SDU), 1.48; 95% CI, 1.19-1.84, P < 0.001], cfPWV (HR per SDU, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.02-1.63, P = 0.032) and central PP (HR per SDU, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.17-1.78; P < 0.001) were associated with incident HF, but baPWV was not (HR per SDU, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.63-1.10; P = 0.198). In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) of brachial PP (P < 0.001), cfPWV (P = 0.003) or central PP (P = 0.001) was larger than that of baPWV, and there was no difference in the AUCs of brachial PP, cfPWV and central PP. Conclusion: Among arterial stiffness indices, brachial PWV was less associated with the risk of heart failure, and brachial PP and measures representing central hemodynamics were highly associated with incident HF.

Association between body fat parameters and arterial stiffness

The influence of body fat on arterial stiffness remains controversial. This study was performed to investigate the associations between four different types of body fat parameters and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). A total of 3758 subjects (mean age, 53.4 ± 8.8 years; females, 36.3%) who underwent health check-up were retrospectively analyzed. Anthropometric parameters including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist–hip ratio (WHR) were assessed, and visceral fat area (VFA) was calculated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. In simple linear correlation analyses, baPWV was associated with WC, WHR and VFA (P < 0.001 for each), but not with BMI (P = 0.175). In multivariable analyses, BMI and WC were not associated with baPWV (P > 0.05 for each). Even after controlling for potential confounders, higher baPWV was significantly associated not only with higher WHR [for > 0.90 in men and > 0.85 in women: odds ratio (OR), 1.23; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06–1.42; P = 0.005; for the highest tertile compared to the lowest tertile: OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.15–1.66; P < 0.001], but also with higher VFA (for ≥ 100 cm²: OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.20–1.60; P < 0.001; for the highest tertile compared to the lowest tertile: OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.48–2.12; P < 0.001). Our study showed that baPWV was correlated with WHR and VFA, but not with BMI and WC. This implies that arterial stiffness may be more strongly associated with abdominal obesity than overall obesity.