Correlation of left ventricular longitudinal strain and E/e' ratio in primary hypertension patients.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to explore and compare the relationships of both global longitudinal strain (GLS) and strain (SR) with E/e' ratio in a population of asymptomatic patients with systemic hypertension.

Methods

Retrospectively included 210 cases of essential hypertension patients. Dynamic images were analyzed for left ventricular myocardial systolic global longitudinal strain (GLS), left ventricular longitudinal peak systolic strain rate (SRs), early diastolic peak strain rate (SRe), late diastolic peak strain rate (SRa). According to the 2012 baseline E/e' ratio, the population was divided into three groups, group A (E/e'<8), group B (8 ≤ E/e'≤14), and group C (E/e'>14).

Results

Systolic function parameters left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) remained at normal rage and no different, but patients with elevated E/e' ratio had significantly lower GLS, lower early diastolic strain rate(SRe), lower ratio of early diastolic strain rate to late diastolic strain rate (SRe/a) and higher E/SRe. Positive relationships were observed between GLS, E/SRe and E/e' ratio, inverse relationships were observed between SRe, SRe/a and E/e' ratio. E/SRe >0.73 had a sensitivity of 87.7% and a specificity of 38.2% for predicting an elevated E/e' ratio (E/e'>14). In multivariable analysis, IVS-e' <7 cm/s showed almost 2.5-fold increased risk for decreased GLS (OR 2.48[95% CI 1.36-4.53]; p = 003).

Conclusions

Our current study demonstrated that hypertensive patients with preserved LVEF and elevated E/e' ratio have systolic and diastolic abnormalities in longitudinal directions as detected by speckle imaging. E/SRe correlates well with E/e' and predicted elevated left ventricular filling pressure.