Influence of the cardio-ankle vascular index on chronic-phase left ventricular dysfunction after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the possible influence of arterial stiffness assessed by the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) on chronic-phase left ventricular dysfunction in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: A total of 208 consecutive patients with first STEMI (age, 64 +/- 11 years; 86% men) who underwent reperfusion therapy within 12 h of onset were enrolled. We analysed arterial stiffness by measuring CAVI in a stable phase after admission and performed two-dimensional echocardiography at baseline and 7 months' follow-up. Subsequently, we assessed left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) to evaluate left ventricular function. A total of 158 (75.9%) patients underwent baseline cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). We estimated left ventricular infarct size by measuring peak levels of creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), and CMR-late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Results: On the basis of the median CAVI value, the patients were allocated into high CAVI (CAVI >= 8.575) and low CAVI (CAVI < 8.575) groups. The groups showed no statistically significant differences in LV-GLS at baseline (-13.5% +/- 3.1 vs. -13.9% +/- 2.7%, P = 0.324). However, LV-GLS was significantly worse in the high CAVI group than in the low-CAVI group at 7 months (-14.0% +/- 2.9 vs. -15.6% +/- 3.0%, P < 0.001). Stratified by CAVI and peak CK-MB or LGE, the four groups showed significant differences in LV-GLS at 7 months after STEMI (both P < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis with the forced inclusion model showed that CAVI was an independent predictor of LV-GLS at 7 months (P = 0.015). Conclusion: CAVI early after STEMI onset was significantly associated with chronic-phase LV-GLS. In addition, combining CAVI with CK-MB or LGE improves its predictive ability for evaluation of chronic-phase LV-GLS. Thus, the arterial stiffness assessment by CAVI was an important factor related to chronic-phase left ventricular dysfunction after the first STEMI.