Elevated radial arterial augmentation index in hypertensive patients with diastolic dysfunction

Objective To investigate the correlation between augmentation index (AI) of the radial artery and diastolic heart function in patients with hypertension. Methods Echocardiographs were obtained for 305 patients with hypertension. AI, pulse wave velocity (PWV) of peripheral arteries and serum pro-brain natriuretic peptide (proBNP) levels were determined. Correlations and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn between AI values and impaired diastolic function. Results AI levels were significantly increased in patients with impaired diastolic function diagnosed by ultrasound. Assessment of diastolic heart function based on proBNP levels revealed that AI and aortic pulse wave velocity were significantly elevated in patients with impaired diastolic function. The operating curve indicated that AI may be a more accurate and efficient index for the evaluation of impaired diastolic function compared to PWV. Correlation analysis also showed that proBNP levels had altered in parallel with changes in AI and PWV. After adjusting for various factors including age, gender, blood pressure and blood lipid, a positive correlation was observed between proBNP and AI with a correlation coefficient of 0.3697 (P=0.003). However, no correlation between proBNP and aortic PWV was seen after adjustment. Conclusions Changes in radial AI levels may reflect parallel changes in diastolic cardiac function in patients with hypertension, suggesting that AI may be utilized as a non-invasive clinical indicator of diastolic heart function.