Association Between Progression of Arterial Stiffness and Left Ventricular Remodeling in a Community-Based Cohort

Cross sectionally measured, elevated arterial stiffness is associated with unfavorable left ventricular (LV) remodeling, suggesting its important role in the pathophysiology of heart failure. However, data linking the degree of arterial stiffness progression with LV remodeling are scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between longitudinal change in arterial stiffness and changes in LV remodeling. Serial measurements of arterial stiffness by cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) were performed in 317 participants without cardiovascular disease and with normal arterial stiffness. LV size, mass, and function were assessed by transthoracic echocardiography and including LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) by speckle-tracking and tissue Doppler velocity (e’) of the mitral annulus (diastolic function). During a median follow-up of 26.8 mo, there was a significant increase in CAVI (P < 0.001). Generalized estimating equation analyses showed that longitudinal increase in CAVI was associated with impaired LVGLS (estimate 0.46, 95% CI: 0.11-0.82; P = 0.010) after adjustment for demographics and baseline cardiovascular factors, but not with changes of LV mass index and e’ velocity. When controlling for longitudinal change of covariates, CAVI progression remained associated with change in LVGLS (estimate 0.50, 95% CI: 0.16-0.85; P = 0.004). In sex stratified analysis, progression of CAVI was significantly associated with LVGLS deterioration only in women (estimate 0.92, 95% CI: 0.27-1.58; P = 0.006). Longitudinal increase in arterial stiffness is associated with deterioration in LVGLS. Vascular-ventricular coupling plays an important role in the progressive decline in ventricular function even at an early, subclinical stage.