Carotid Vascular Strain Predicts Cardiovascular Events in Patients with
Hypertension
Abstract
Background: We aim to investigate prognostic effects of carotid strain
(CS) and strain rate (CSR) in hypertension. Methods: We prospectively
recruited 120 patients being treated for hypertension (65.8 ± 11.8
years, 58% male) in this observational study. Peak circumferential CS
and peak CSR after ejection were identified using two-dimensional
speckle tracking ultrasound. Major cardiovascular events were any
admission for stroke, acute coronary syndrome, and heart failure.
Results: After a mean follow-up period of 63.6 ± 14.5 months, 14 (12%)
patients had cardiovascular events. Age (75.3 ± 9.2 vs. 64.6 ± 11.6
years; p = 0.001), systolic blood pressure (131.8 ± 15.5 vs. 143.1 ±
16.6 mmHg; p = 0.021), diastolic blood pressure (74.6 ±11.4 vs. 82.1 ±
12.2 mmHg; p = 0.039), use of diuretics (71 vs. 92 %; p = 0.014),
carotid CS (2.17 ± 1.02 vs. 3.28 ± 1.14 %; p = 0.001), and CSR (0.28 ±
0.17 vs. 0.51 ± 0.18 1/s; p <0.001) were significantly
different between the patients who did and did not reach the end-points.
Multivariate Cox regression analysis controlling for age, systolic blood
pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and use of diuretics showed that CS
(HR 0.425, 95%CI 0.223-0.811, p = 0.009) and CSR (HR 0.001, 95%CI
0.000-0.072, p = 0.001) were independent predictors for cardiovascular
events. Conclusion: In conclusions, decreased CS and CSR were associated
with cardiovascular events in hypertension.