The role of carotid artery stiffness in predicting left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients

Background: Increased arterial stiffness has been shown to predict cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients. However, there is limited evidence about the relation between carotid artery stiffness and cardiac remodeling in hypertensive patients. Methods: We evaluated by conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography 690 asymptomatic hypertensive patients (48% males) that underwent our Preventive Cardiology Department for a comprehensive risk factors screening. Patients with known coronary artery disease or more than mild valvular heart disease were excluded. Carotid stiffness index (b) was measured using a high-resolution echotracking system. Common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured at 1 cm from bifurcation using ultrasound. We defined the patterns of left ventricular (LV) remodeling using a cut-off value of 0.42 for relative wall thickness and 51 g/ m2.7 for LV mass index. Results: Table shows the differences between the 4 groups, considering also IMT, LV EF, E/e’ ratio and LA volume index. In a multivariate regression model, we found that carotid b-index was a significant predictor of LV mass index, independent of age and gender (p,0.001). Age-corrected waist circumference and body mass index were also predictors of LV mass index (p=0.034, respectively p,0.001). Conclusions: These results indicate that carotid artery stiffness is strongly correlated to geometric changes in the left ventricle, independently of age and gender. Therefore, measurements and control of carotid artery stiffness can play an important role in the prevention of cardiac remodeling.