Abstract MP35: Relation of Left Ventricular Structure to Incident Heart Failure in African Americans: The Jackson Cohort of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Abstract

Introduction: Studies in non-Hispanic whites suggest that early adaptive changes in cardiac structure due to hypertension may influence the development of heart failure (HF). The predictive value of left ventricular (LV) structure to incident acute decompensated HF (ADHF) has not been well-studied in African Americans (AA) despite the higher incidence of HF in this group. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that incidence of ADHF in AA varies according to cardiac structures and LV geometry type. Methods: The study sample included 1,737 participants who attended the third examination cycle of the Jackson cohort of ARIC between 1993 and1995 and underwent echocardiography, anthropometry and phlebotomy for glucose and lipids. Left atrial size, aortic root diameter (AOD), LV wall thicknesses and chamber dimensions, LV mass, LV mass index, LV hypertrophy (LVH) and LV geometric patterns [normal geometry, concentric hypertrophy, eccentric hypertrophy (EH), concentric remodeling] were determined by echocardiography. Cutoff for LVH was defined as above the 80th percentile of LV mass index. HF data was available up to December 31, 2011. In the primary analyses we adjusted for age, sex, smoking, diabetes, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and use of hypertension medications in the multivariable model. Results: Over a follow-up period of approximately 18 years, 188 participants developed ADHF. Incident ADHF was significantly related to AOD [HR 1.42 (1.03, 1.97)], LV internal diameter in diastole (cm) [HR 1.60 (1.24, 2.05)], LV mass [HR 1.003 (1.002, 1.005)], LVM index [HR 1.01 (1.004, 1.02) and LVH [HR 1.62 (1.16, 2.27)]. In terms of LV geometry, EH was significantly related to incident ADHF in the multivariable model [HR 2.94 (1.70-5.10)]. Conclusion: In our large community-based sample of AAs, we observed that AOD, LV internal diameter in diastole, LV mass, LV mass index, LVH and EH geometry were significantly related to long-term incidence of ADHF independent of standard risk factors. These findings suggest echocardiography may be helpful in risk stratifying members of this high risk population for ADHF.