Association Between Ventricular-Arterial Coupling and C-Reactive Protein in Patients at Risk for Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND

Although ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF), their association in patients at risk of HF remains unclear.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

VAC was assessed by arterial elastance (Ea) to left ventricular endsystolic elastance (Ees) ratio (Ea/Ees) using the noninvasive single-beat method in 112 hypertensive patients. Log-transformed high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) and categorical hs-CRP were associated with Ea/Ees on univariate analysis. Categorical hs-CRP was independently associated with Ea/Ees after adjusting for atherosclerotic risk factors, cardiac function and vascular function (β=0.27, P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

hs-CRP was independently associated with VAC assessed by Ea/Ees in patients at risk of HF.