Decreased plasma adiponectin is associated with impaired left ventricular longitudinal systolic function in hypertensive patients: a two-dimensional speckle tracking study

The influence of plasma adiponectin levels on myocardial contractile function has not been fully examined. We aimed to investigate the relationship between three-directional systolic function and plasma adiponectin levels in asymptomatic hypertensive patients using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography. The study population consisted of 78 patients with hypertension and 40 healthy controls. Longitudinal strain was significantly reduced in all patients, including those without LV hypertrophy (p = 0.009). In multiple-regression analysis, plasma adiponectin levels (beta = -0.273, p = 0.008) and LV mass index (beta = 0.458, p < 0.001) independently correlated with LV longitudinal strain. Decreased plasma adiponectin concentrations were associated with the progression of LV hypertrophy with impaired LV longitudinal systolic function.