Introduction: Hypertension is associated with increased arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness, which is a predictor of cardiovascular risk, has been shown to correlate with diastolic dysfunction of left ventricle in hypertensive patients.

Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that arterial stiffness is associated with left ventricular systolic function in never-treated hypertensive patients.

Methods: We enrolled 195 consecutive essential hypertensives (mean age 50±12 years) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF>45%). Arterial stiffness was determined with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). LVEF was measured echocardiographically and calculated using the Teichholz method.

Results: Subjects were divided into tertiles according to PWV. There was a correlation of PWV tertiles with age (44±13 vs 49±11 vs 57±9 years at the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd tertile, respectively). Mean blood pressure was similar across the tertiles (p=NS). We observed a stepwise decrease of LVEF with increasing PWV. (Figure) Multivariable regression analysis showed that the inverse correlation of LVEF with PWV was independent of age, sex and mean blood pressure (p=0.028, adjusted R² of model=0.241).

Conclusion: Higher PWV is an independent predictor of a lower LVEF in never-treated essential hypertensives. This finding provides further insights into the role of arterial stiffness in left ventricular function.