<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Objective</bold>: Micro- and macrovascular changes can occur in heart failure, and could influence its prognosis and management. In a prospective study, we proposed the evaluation of arterial stiffness (macrovascular function) and its correlations in patients with systolic heart failure.
<bold>Methods</bold>: 40 patients (32 men, 8 women, mean age 63±2.9 years), with hemodynamically stable systolic heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction, EF&lt;40%) were enrolled in the study. In every patient, beyond routine explorations (ECG, cardiac and carotid ultrasound, laboratory measurements), arterial stiffness was assessed by measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV). The correlations of PWV with clinical and echo-cardiographic characteristics were studied using t-test and chi-square test (p&lt;0.05 being considered for statistical significance).
<bold>Results</bold>: The average PWV was 8.55±2.2 m/s, and 16 patients had increased PWV (>10 m/s). We found significantly higher PWV values in patients older than 65 years (p&lt;0.001), in patients with eGFR &lt;60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (p&lt;0.001), hypertension (p=0.006), and increased (>1 mm) carotid intima-media thickness (p=0.016). PWV was found to be significantly lower when EF was &lt;30% (p=0.049). Furthermore, the presence of an increased PWV was correlated significantly with age (p&lt;0.001), and (with borderline significance) with eGFR &lt;60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and, inversely, with EF&lt;30%.
<bold>Conclusions</bold>: Increased arterial stiffness reflected by high PWV is frequently present in patients with systolic heart failure, and is mainly correlated with general risk factors of arterial involvement. Low EF, due to low stroke volume and decreased systolic arterial wall tension can influence the values and the interpretation of PWV.
</abstract>

Objective: Micro- and macrovascular changes can occur in heart failure, and could influence its prognosis and management. In a prospective study, we proposed the evaluation of arterial stiffness (macrovascular function) and its correlations in patients with systolic heart failure.
Methods: 40 patients (32 men, 8 women, mean age 63±2.9 years), with hemodynamically stable systolic heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction, EF<40%) were enrolled in the study. In every patient, beyond routine explorations (ECG, cardiac and carotid ultrasound, laboratory measurements), arterial stiffness was assessed by measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV). The correlations of PWV with clinical and echo-cardiographic characteristics were studied using t-test and chi-square test (p<0.05 being considered for statistical significance).
Results: The average PWV was 8.55±2.2 m/s, and 16 patients had increased PWV (>10 m/s). We found significantly higher PWV values in patients older than 65 years (p<0.001), in patients with eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (p<0.001), hypertension (p=0.006), and increased (>1 mm) carotid intima-media thickness (p=0.016). PWV was found to be significantly lower when EF was <30% (p=0.049). Furthermore, the presence of an increased PWV was correlated significantly with age (p<0.001), and (with borderline significance) with eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and, inversely, with EF<30%.
Conclusions: Increased arterial stiffness reflected by high PWV is frequently present in patients with systolic heart failure, and is mainly correlated with general risk factors of arterial involvement. Low EF, due to low stroke volume and decreased systolic arterial wall tension can influence the values and the interpretation of PWV.

Evaluation of arterial stiffness in systolic heart failure

George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures

Acta Marisiensis - Seria Medica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Evaluation of arterial stiffness in systolic heart failure"}

Objective: Micro- and macrovascular changes can occur in heart failure, and could influence its prognosis and management. In a prospective study, we proposed the evaluation of arterial stiffness (macrovascular function) and its correlations in patients with systolic heart failure.
Methods: 40 patients (32 men, 8 women, mean age 63±2.9 years), with hemodynamically stable systolic heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction, EF10 m/s). We found significantly higher PWV values in patients older than 65 years (p1 mm) carotid intima-media thickness (p=0.016). PWV was found to be significantly lower when EF was <30% (p=0.049). Furthermore, the presence of an increased PWV was correlated significantly with age (p<0.001), and (with borderline significance) with eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and, inversely, with EF<30%.
Conclusions: Increased arterial stiffness reflected by high PWV is frequently present in patients with systolic heart failure, and is mainly correlated with general risk factors of arterial involvement. Low EF, due to low stroke volume and decreased systolic arterial wall tension can influence the values and the interpretation of PWV.

Objective: Micro- and macrovascular changes can occur in heart failure, and could influence its prognosis and management. In a prospective study, we proposed...

Evaluation of arterial stiffness in systolic heart failure

Published Online: Jul 12, 2021

Page range: 86 - 89

Received: Nov 07, 2020

Accepted: Feb 22, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amma-2021-0009

Keywords
systolic heart failure, arterial stiffness, pulse wave velocity

© 2021 Lajos Fehérvári et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Evaluation of arterial stiffness in systolic heart failure

Published Online: Jul 12, 2021

Page range: 86 - 89

Received: Nov 07, 2020

Accepted: Feb 22, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amma-2021-0009

Keywordssystolic heart failure, arterial stiffness, pulse wave velocity

© 2021 Lajos Fehérvári et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
systolic heart failure, arterial stiffness, pulse wave velocity