RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VASCULAR AGEING AND LEFT VENTRICULAR CONCENTRIC GEOMETRY IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERLY: THE NORTHERN SHANGHAI STUDY

Abstract

Objective: There have been few recent studies regarding vascular ageing and its relationship between left ventricular (LV) geometry. Moreover, the association of abnormal LV geometry with various kinds of vascular ageing has not yet been systematically analysed. Thus, the study aimed to further elucidate this relationship. Design and method: In this study, 3363 elderly participants (43.6% male, aged 71.1 ± 5.9 years; 56.4% female, aged 71.1 ± 6.1 years) derived from the Northern Shanghai Study were enrolled. Vascular ageing criteria included arteriosclerosis, defined as cf-PWV > 10 m/s or ba-PWV > 1800 cm/s, peripheral atherosclerosis was defined as ABI < 0.9, cIMT greater than 0.9 mm or carotid plaque indicating carotid artery abnormality. Micro-albuminuria was defined as urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) above 30 mg/g. Decreased eGFR was defined as eGFR less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 Results: When vascular ageing parameters were respectively adjusted for age and gender, arteriosclerosis, micro-albuminuria, and peripheral atherosclerosis were significantly associated with concentric remodelling, eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and concentric LVH (P < 0.045), but not with decreased eGFR or abnormal cIMT and presence of plaque. Peripheral atherosclerosis was strongly associated with left ventricular concentric geometry (LVCG) when considering other covariates (risk factors, diseases, and treatments) (P < 0.012). Conclusions: Vascular ageing parameters such as arteriosclerosis, micro-albuminuria, and peripheral atherosclerosis are significantly and independently associated with left ventricular concentric geometry in community-dwelling elderly Chinese population, suggesting the importance of vascular ageing during early clinical assessment of abnormal LV geometry change and serious cardiovascular events.