Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Systole”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Cardiac ventricular diastolic and systolic duration in children with heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Systole and diastole are the fundamental periods of the cardiac cycle, yet little emphasis has been placed on their relative duration when evaluating heart failure. Cardiac intervals are used to assess ventricular function, but the relative duration of systole and diastole for defining function have not been evaluated. We hypothesized that in heart failure, systole is prolonged and diastole shortened. We defined systole and diastole in 16 children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and in 16 normal controls, matched for age and gender, using the mitral regurgitant (MR) and tricuspid regurgitant (TR) flow duration. The systole and diastole durations (expressed as a fraction of the cardiac cycle) were correlated with heart rate and age and compared between groups. The subjects were compared with gender- and age-matched controls (9.98 +/- 6.1 vs 9.88 +/- 6.08 years, p = NS). The 2 groups had similar heart rates (104 +/- 31 vs 92 +/- 34 beats/min, p = NS). The systole duration was not significantly different when measured by MR versus TR duration (0.60 +/- 0.10 vs 0.57 +/- 0.11 of the cardiac cycle, respectively, p = NS). Systole was prolonged in subjects compared with controls (0.60 +/- 0.1 vs 0.42 +/- 0.08, respectively, using MR duration, p < 0.0001 and 0.57 +/- 0.11 vs 0.41 +/- 0.07, respectively, using TR duration, p = 0.0008). The systolic/diastolic ratio was 0.77 +/- 0.24 in the controls versus 1.57 +/- 0.98 in the patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy using the TR duration (p < 0.005) and 1.67 +/- 0.68 using the MR duration (p < 0.0001). The systole duration correlated with heart rate in subjects (r = 0.79, p = 0.0003) and controls (r = 0.69, p = 0.003). In conclusion, systole is significantly prolonged and diastole correspondingly shortened in heart failure. Reversal of the normal systolic/diastolic ratio may compromise cardiac filling and function. The systole and diastole duration are easily measured using routine Doppler flow, enhancing assessment of cardiac function in children.

Adolescent↗

Do systolic murmurs predict mortality in the elderly? A 15-year longitudinal population study of 70-year-olds.

Systolic murmurs are common in the elderly but there is a striking paucity regarding published reports on their clinical significance and relation with mortality. This study describes prevalence of systolic murmurs in the elderly and cardiovascular diseases in 70-year-olds with or without systolic murmurs, and investigates the relation between systolic murmurs at age 70 and 15-year mortality. This cohort study is based on 973 (449 males and 524 females) 70-year-olds from Göteborg, Sweden who were examined in 1971/1972 at the Department of Geriatric Medicine, Göteborg University, and was followed-up to the year 2001. The prevalence of systolic murmur was 31% (females 36.4%, males 23.9%). Among subjects with systolic murmurs the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and hypertension was significantly higher in both sexes and congestive heart failure (CHF) in females only. Systolic murmur was a predictor for mortality in females (RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.17-1.91) but not in males (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.89-1.49). Diagnosis of a cardiovascular disease was a significant predictor in both sexes for mortality irrespective of having systolic murmurs. In conclusion, there is a significant positive association of cardiovascular diseases with systolic murmurs in the elderly. The increased risk for mortality due to the presence of systolic murmur at age 70 is mediated through cardiovascular diseases.

Aged↗

"Pure" diastolic dysfunction is associated with long-axis systolic dysfunction. Implications for the diagnosis and classification of heart failure.

AIMS: To investigate regional systolic function of the left ventricle, to test the hypothesis that "pure" diastolic dysfunction (impaired global diastolic filling, with a preserved ejection fraction > or = 50%) is associated with longitudinal systolic dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred thirty subjects (31 patients with asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction, 30 with diastolic heart failure, 30 with systolic heart failure; and 39 age-matched normal volunteers) were studied by conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Global diastolic function was assessed using the flow propagation velocity, and by estimating left ventricular filling pressure from the ratio of transmitral E and mitral annular E(TDE) velocities (E/E(TDE)); and global systolic function by measurement of ejection fraction. Radial and longitudinal functions were assessed separately from posterior wall and mitral annular velocities. Global and radial systolic function were similar in patients with "pure" diastolic dysfunction and normal subjects, but patients with either asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction or diastolic heart failure had impaired longitudinal systolic function (mean velocities: 8.0+/-1.2 and 7.7+/-1.5 cm/s, respectively, versus 10.1+/-1.5 cm/s in controls; p<0.001). In subjects with normal ejection fraction, global diastolic function correlated with longitudinal systolic function (r=0.56 for flow propagation velocity, and r=-0.53 for E/E(TDE) ratio, both p<0.001), but not with global systolic function. CONCLUSION: Worsening global diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle is associated with a progressive decline in longitudinal systolic function. Diastolic heart failure as conventionally diagnosed is associated with regional, subendocardial systolic dysfunction that can be revealed by tissue Doppler of long-axis shortening. Diagnostic algorithms and definitions of heart failure need to be revised.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗

Clinical presentation, management, and in-hospital outcomes of patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure with preserved systolic function: a report from the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry (ADHERE) Database.

UNLABELLED: Approximately 50% of patients hospitalized for heart failure have preserved systolic function. These patients are more likely to be older, women, and hypertensive. Their duration of hospitalization is similar to that of heart failure patients with systolic dysfunction, but their in-hospital mortality risk is lower. This mortality risk is increased in the setting of renal insufficiency, and the two most important risk predictors are elevated blood urea nitrogen and systolic blood pressure < or = 125 mm Hg. Medical treatment strategies for patients with preserved systolic function are inconsistent and reflect the need for efficacious evidence-based treatment regimens. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this analysis were to describe the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure (HF) with preserved systolic function (PSF). BACKGROUND: Clinically meaningful characteristics of these patients have not been fully studied in a large database. METHODS: Data from >100,000 hospitalizations from the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry (ADHERE) database were analyzed. RESULTS: Heart failure with PSF was present in 50.4% of patients with in-hospital assessment of left ventricular function. When compared with patients with systolic dysfunction, patients with PSF were more likely to be older, women, and hypertensive and less likely to have had a prior myocardial infarction or be receiving an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker. In-hospital mortality was lower in patients with PSF compared with patients with systolic dysfunction (2.8% vs. 3.9%; adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.86; p = 0.005), but duration of intensive care unit stay and total hospital length of stay were similar. Serum creatinine >2 mg/dl was associated with increased in-hospital mortality in both systolic function groups (PSF: 4.8%; systolic dysfunction: 8.4%; p < 0.0001), and the most powerful predictors of in-hospital mortality in both groups were blood urea nitrogen >37 mg/dl (OR: 2.53; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.22 to 2.87) and systolic blood pressure < or =125 mm Hg (OR: 2.58; 95% CI: 2.33 to 2.86). CONCLUSIONS: Heart failure with PSF is common and is characterized by a unique patient profile. Event rates are worrisome and reflect a need for more effective management strategies.

Aged↗

Diastolic and systolic asynchrony in patients with diastolic heart failure: a common but ignored condition.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to examine whether diastolic and systolic asynchrony exist in diastolic heart failure (DHF) and their prevalence and relationship to systolic heart failure (SHF) patients. BACKGROUND: Few data exist on mechanical asynchrony in DHF. METHODS: Tissue Doppler echocardiography was performed in 373 heart failure patients (281 with SHF and 92 with DHF) and 100 normal subjects. Diastolic and systolic asynchrony was determined by measuring the standard deviation of time to peak myocardial systolic (Ts-SD) and peak early diastolic (Te-SD) velocity using a 6-basal, 6-mid-segmental model, respectively. RESULTS: Both heart failure groups had prolonged Te-SD (DHF vs. SHF vs. controls subjects: 32.2 +/- 18.0 ms vs. 38.0 +/- 25.2 ms vs. 19.5 +/- 7.1 ms) and Ts-SD (31.8 +/- 17.0 ms vs. 36.7 +/- 15.2 ms vs. 17.6 +/- 7.9 ms) compared with the control group (all p < 0.001 vs. control subjects). Based on normal values, the DHF group had comparable diastolic (35.9% vs. 43.1%; chi-square = 1.48, p = NS), but less systolic asynchrony than the SHF group (39.1% vs. 56.9%; chi-square = 8.82, p = 0.003). Normal synchrony, isolated systolic, isolated diastolic, and combined asynchrony were observed in 39.1%, 25.0%, 21.7%, and 14.1% of DHF patients, respectively, and these were 25.6%, 31.3%, 17.4%, and 25.6%, correspondingly, in SHF (chi-square = 10.01, p = 0.019). The correlation between systolic and diastolic asynchrony, and between the myocardial velocities and corresponding mechanical asynchrony appeared weak. A wide QRS duration (>120 ms) was rare in DHF (10.9% vs. 37.7% in SHF) (chi-square = 16.69, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Diastolic and/or systolic asynchrony was common in 61% of DHF patients despite narrow QRS complex. The presence of asynchrony was not related to myocardial systolic or diastolic function. Systolic and diastolic asynchrony were not tightly coupled, implying distinct mechanisms.

Aged↗

Subendocardial and subepicardial pressure-flow relations in the rat heart in diastolic and systolic arrest.

Ischemic heart disease is more apparent in the subendocardial than in subepicardial layers. We investigated coronary pressure-flow relations in layers of the isolated rat left ventricle, using 15 microm microspheres during diastolic and systolic arrest in the vasodilated coronary circulation. A special cannula allowed for selective determination of left main stem pressure-flow relations. Arterio-venous shunt flow was derived from microspheres in the venous effluent. We quantitatively investigated the pressure-flow relations in diastolic arrest (n=8), systolic arrest at normal contractility (n=8) and low contractility (n=6). In all three groups normal and large ventricular volume was studied. In diastolic arrest, at a perfusion pressure of 90 mmHg, subendocardial flow is larger than subepicardial flow, i.e., the endo/epi ratio is approximately 1.2. In systolic arrest the endo/epi ratio is approximately 0.3, and subendocardial flow and subepicardial flow are approximately 12% and approximately 55% of their values during diastolic arrest. The endo/epi ratio in diastolic arrest decreases with increasing perfusion pressure, while in systole the ratio increases. The slope of the pressure-flow relations, i.e., inverse of resistance, changes by a factor of approximately 5.3 in the subendocardium and by a factor approximately 2.2 in the subepicardium from diastole to systole. Lowering contractility affects subendocardial flow more than subepicardial flow, but both contractility and ventricular volume changes have only a limited effect on both subendocardial and subepicardial flow. The resistance (inverse of slope) of the total left main stem pressure-flow relation changes by a factor of approximately 3.4 from diastolic to systolic arrest. The zero-flow pressure increases from diastole to systole. Thus, coronary perfusion flow in diastolic arrest is larger than systolic arrest, with the largest difference in the subendocardium, as a result of layer dependent increases in vascular resistance and intercept pressure. Shunt flow is larger in diastolic than in systolic arrest, and increases with perfusion pressure. We conclude that changes in contractility and ventricular volume have a smaller effect on pressure-flow relations than diastolic-systolic differences. A synthesis of models accounting for the effect of cardiac contraction on perfusion is suggested.

Animals↗

Prognostic significance of systolic blood pressure changes during dobutamine-atropine stress technetium-99m sestamibi perfusion scintigraphy in patients with chest pain and known or suspected coronary artery disease.

To investigate the prognostic value of dobutamine stress-induced changes in systolic blood pressure (BP) 418 patients (mean age 60 years, 238 men) with chest pain and known or suspected coronary artery disease, who underwent a dobutamine-atropine stress technetium-99m sestamibi myocardial perfusion scintigraphic study, were followed up for 25 +/- 15 months. Blood pressure was measured by automatic sphygmomanometry every 3 minutes. A marked decrease and increase in systolic BP from rest to peak were defined as changes of > or = 20 mm Hg, and > or = 30 mm Hg, respectively. Worst outcome events were cardiac death (n = 30), nonfatal myocardial infarction (n = 17), and hospitalization for congestive heart failure (n = 8). A decrease in systolic BP (prevalence 16%) was associated with older age and higher baseline systolic BP. Fixed and reversible sestamibi perfusion defects and follow-up results were similar to patients without a systolic BP decrease. In contrast, an increase in systolic BP (prevalence 24%) was associated with younger age, lower baseline systolic BP, and with absence of a history of prior congestive heart failure or treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Furthermore, these patients had fewer fixed perfusion defects and tended to have fewer annual event rates (3.5% vs 7.5%, p < 0.10). In a multivariate model, an increase in systolic BP was not an independent predictor for subsequent events. In conclusion, a dobutamine-induced decrease in systolic BP is not associated with fixed or reversible sestamibi defects or adverse prognosis. An increase in systolic BP, however, is associated with less fixed sestamibi defects and a tendency toward less annual event rates.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Splenic artery Doppler peak systolic velocity predicts severe fetal anemia in rhesus disease.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether main splenic artery Doppler peak systolic velocity predicts severe anemia in the rhesus-alloimmunized fetus. STUDY DESIGN: Splenic artery Doppler peak systolic velocity was obtained before cordocentesis in rhesus-alloimmunized fetuses. Normative values for mean peak systolic velocity based on gestational age were obtained cross-sectionally from a separate group of 144 normal fetuses. The peak systolic velocity values in the study group were expressed as multiples of the median for gestation, and threshold values were used as a screening test for severe anemia. The hemoglobin deficit was defined as mean hemoglobin for gestation minus measured hemoglobin. A hemoglobin deficit value of > or =5 g/dL was used to define severe anemia. We used the peak systolic velocity to screen for severe anemia in the overall study group and the subgroups with or without prior transfusions. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 26 singleton nonhydropic fetuses in which cordocentesis and Doppler measurements were performed on a total of 55 occasions. The mean gestational age and standard deviation at cordocentesis was 29.6 +/- 4.0 weeks. Severe anemia was noted in 20% of fetal cord blood specimens obtained. On the basis of a receiver operating characteristic curve, a peak systolic velocity of > or =1.4 multiples of the median had a detection rate of 100%, with a false-positive rate of 20.8% in the subgroup with no prior transfusion (relative risk, 4.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-10.5). For peak systolic velocity threshold of > or =1.50 multiples of the median, corresponding values in the group with one prior transfusion were 80% and 12.5%, respectively (relative risk, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-5.3). There was no risk of severe anemia with a peak systolic velocity below the median for gestation. CONCLUSION: Fetal hydrops is rare, with a hemoglobin deficit of <5 g/dL. In the first such report the main splenic artery peak systolic velocity was noted to be a strong predictor of severe anemia. For the overall population, all such instances could be diagnosed while cordocentesis was performed 22.7% of the time. There is no risk of severe anemia with Doppler peak systolic velocities below the median for gestational age. The measurement is easily obtained and should be investigated as a clinical tool for minimizing the necessity for cordocentesis.

Anemia↗

Right ventricular systolic function and ventricular interaction during acute embolisation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in sheep.

OBJECTIVE: Regional LV ischemia involving the septum affects LV systolic function and geometry. We investigated the effects of these changes on RV function and geometry. METHODS: In six closed-chest sheep end-systolic pressure-volume relationships (ESPVRs) were constructed from ventricular volumes, measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and matching intraventricular pressures, before and after selective embolisation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). The extent of myocardial ischemia was assessed post-mortem by coronary perfusion with Evans-Blue. Alterations in septal geometry were studied by measuring the curvature, segmental length and thickness of the septum in two midventricular (short-axis) MRI slices before and during ischemia. From these data, changes in LV and RV free wall segmental lengths were calculated. RESULTS: Selective embolisation of the LAD resulted in left ventricular ischemia (15 +/- 2.1% of the total LV) with 23% of the septum involved. Stroke volume did not change significantly, while LV systolic pressure decreased by 24 mmHg (p < 0.05). Although RV systolic function decreased to a significantly lesser extent than LV function (p < 0.01), systolic function of both ventricles diminished significantly as indicated by substantial rightward shifts of the ESPVRs: 121% for LV and 41% for RV (both p < 0.01). At mid-ventricular level and end-systole, the septum showed significant increases in its radius of curvature and segmental length (both p < 0.05), and a significant wall thinning (p < 0.01). Calculated end-systolic lengths of LV and RV free walls also increased, by 57 and 14% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: LAD embolisation not only results in a significantly diminished LV systolic function but also causes RV systolic function to decline significantly. Regional dysfunction by necessity entails global dysfunction as well. Analysis of ventricular geometry reveals that both the septum and the RV free wall increase their length, which plays an important role in the pathophysiology of diminished RV systolic function concomitant with reduced LV function.

Animals↗

Importance of left ventricular function and systolic ventricular interaction to right ventricular performance during acute right heart ischemia.

To determine whether modulation of systolic ventricular interaction influences right ventricular performance during right heart ischemia, the effects of septal ischemia and inotropic stimulation were studied in 15 dogs in an open chest preparation. Right coronary branch occlusions led to right ventricular dilation and free wall dyskinesia, reversed septal curvature and reduced left ventricular diastolic volume. In systole, the septum thickened but bulged paradoxically into the right ventricle generating an active but depressed right ventricular systolic pressure (28.9 +/- 5.5 to 22.1 +/- 4.5 mm Hg), with associated decreases in right ventricular stroke work (5.66 +/- 0.94 to 1.92 +/- 0.53 g.m/m2) and left ventricular systolic pressure (123 +/- 11 to 80 +/- 10 mm Hg). Septal ischemia induced systolic septal thinning, left ventricular dilation and decreased left ventricular systolic pressure (80 +/- 10 to 55 +/- 10 mm Hg) and stroke work. Although the extent of paradoxic septal displacement increased, there were further decrements in right ventricular systolic pressure (22.1 +/- 4.5 to 18.7 +/- 4.3 mm Hg) and stroke work (1.92 +/- 0.53 to 0.7 +/- 0.2 g.m/m2). Dopamine infusion augmented left ventricular free wall contraction and increased left ventricular systolic pressure (55 +/- 10 to 172 +/- 17 mm Hg) and stroke work. Although systolic septal thinning persisted, the extent of paradoxic septal displacement increased strikingly and, despite continued right ventricular free wall dyskinesia, right ventricular systolic pressure increased (18.7 +/- 4.3 to 39.6 +/- 6.2 mm Hg) as did right ventricular stroke work (0.7 +/- 0.2 to 7 +/- 1.6 g.m/m2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗

Coupled systolic-ventricular and vascular stiffening with age: implications for pressure regulation and cardiac reserve in the elderly.

OBJECTIVES: We tested the hypothesis that age-related arterial stiffening is matched by ventricular systolic stiffening, and that both enhance systolic pressure sensitivity to altered cardiac preload. BACKGROUND: Arterial rigidity with age likely enhances blood pressure sensitivity to ventricular filling volume shifts. Tandem increases in ventricular systolic stiffness may also occur and could potentially enhance this sensitivity. METHODS: Invasive left ventricular pressure-volume relations were measured by conductance catheter in 57 adults aged 19 to 93 years. Patients had normal heart function and no cardiac hypertrophy and were referred for catheterization to evaluate chest pain. Twenty-eight subjects had normal coronary angiography and hemodynamics, and the remaining had either systolic hypertension or coronary artery disease without infarction. Data recorded at rest and during transient preload reduction by inferior vena caval obstruction yielded systolic and diastolic left ventricular chamber and effective arterial stiffness and pulse pressure. RESULTS: Left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction and heart rate were unaltered by age, whereas vascular load and stiffening increased (p < 0.008). Arterial stiffening (Ea) was matched by increased ventricular systolic stiffness (Ees): Ees=0.91 x Ea + 0.53, (r=0.50, p < 0.0001), maintaining arterial-heart interaction (Ea/Ees ratio) age-independent. Ventricular systolic and diastolic stiffnesses correlated (r=0.51, p < 0.0001) and increased with age (p < 0.03). Both ventricular and vascular stiffening significantly increased systolic pressure sensitivity to cardiac preload (p < 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Arterial stiffening with age is matched by ventricular systolic stiffening even without hypertrophy. The two effects contribute to elevating systolic pressure sensitivity to altered chamber filling. In addition to recognized baroreflex and autonomic dysfunction with age, combined stiffening could further enhance pressure lability with diuretics and postural shifts in the elderly.

Adult↗

A rapid method to quantify left atrial contractile function: Doppler tissue imaging of the mitral annulus during atrial systole.

AIMS: Assess the value of peak atrial systolic mitral annular velocity (Aann) measured by Doppler tissue echocardiography to quantify left atrial systolic function. METHODS: We studied a total of 61 adults; 10 subjects without history of heart disease and 51 patients with a history of atrial fibrillation or undergoing evaluation for left ventricular systolic or diastolic dysfunction. Aann was obtained by averaging peak atrial systolic mitral annular velocities from the septal, lateral, anterior, and inferior annulus. Left atrial fractional area change (FAC) and fractional volume change (FVC) during atrial systole were calculated. The correlation between peak atrial systolic mitral annular velocity (Aann) and left atrial systolic FAC and FVC was determined. RESULTS: Mean FAC and FVC were 27 +/- 12 and 40 +/- 14%, respectively; mean Aann was 11.2 +/- 3.2 cm/s. Linear regression analysis showed correlation between Aann and FAC (r = 0.71; p<0.001) and between Aann and FVC (r = 0.74; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Peak systolic mitral annular velocity correlates well with left atrial systolic FAC and FVC, thus providing an easy means to assess left atrial systolic function.

Adult↗

Absence of age-related increase in systolic blood pressure in ambulatory patients with HIV infection.

BACKGROUND: Systolic blood pressure is well known to increase significantly with age and is strongly correlated with stroke and coronary artery disease. We and other investigators have reported a low prevalence of hypertension in subgroups of patients with HIV infection. In the present study, we examined an ambulatory population of patients with HIV infection to determine whether in the outpatient setting they may lack an age-related increase in systolic blood pressure. METHODS: In an ambulatory outpatient practice, medical records of 178 consecutive patients with HIV infection and those of 200 control subjects were examined. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and other clinical and laboratory variables were recorded. Scatter plots were generated to compare age with systolic blood pressure. Spearman rank correlation analysis was carried out to determine the relationship between systolic blood pressure and age and other variables. RESULTS: Patients ranged in age from 13 to 69 years. There was only a very slight increase (which did not achieve statistical significance) in systolic blood pressure with aging in the patients with HIV infection, in contrast to the control population, in which an age-related increase in systolic blood pressure was seen that was comparable to published Framingham data. Mean systolic blood pressure for the group as a whole was 118.2 +/- 1.1 mm Hg. Mean serum albumin was 4.2 +/- 0.04 g/dL and was only slightly diminished in older patients. Mean serum cholesterol was 176.8 +/- 3.4 mg/dL and this bore no relationship to aging. More advanced stages of HIV infection also did not correlate with the lack of age-associated systolic hypertension. CONCLUSION: The present population of ambulatory patients infected with HIV seem to lack an age-related increase in systolic blood pressure; this may be caused by such variables as autonomic dysfunction or factors that may attenuate the development of atherosclerosis.

Adolescent↗

Isolated systolic hypertension is associated with adverse outcomes from coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

UNLABELLED: Isolated systolic blood pressure has not been sufficiently studied in the perioperative setting and may contribute to morbidity and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension among patients who had CABG surgery and to assess whether isolated systolic hypertension is associated with perioperative and postoperative in-hospital morbidity or mortality. Patients who underwent CABG were selected from a prospective epidemiological study involving 2417 patients in 24 medical centers. Patients were classified as having normal preoperative blood pressure, isolated systolic hypertension (systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg), diastolic hypertension (diastolic blood pressure >90 mm Hg), or a combination of these. Demographic risk factors (age, sex, and ethnicity), clinical risk factors (diabetes mellitus, increased cholesterol, antihypertensive medications, history of congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, hypertension, and neurological deficits), and behavioral risk factors (smoking and heavy drinking) were controlled for statistically. Adverse outcomes included left ventricular dysfunction, cerebral vascular dysfunction or events, renal insufficiency or failure, and all-cause mortality. Isolated systolic hypertension was found in 29.6% of patients. Unadjusted isolated systolic hypertension was associated with a 40% increased risk of adverse outcomes (odds ratio, 1.4; confidence interval, 1.1-1.7). After adjusting for other potential risk factors, the increased risk of adverse outcomes with isolated systolic hypertension was 30%. We conclude that isolated systolic hypertension is associated with a 40% increase in the likelihood of cardiovascular morbidity perioperatively in CABG patients. This increase remains present regardless of antihypertensive medications, anesthetic techniques, and other perioperative cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., age older than 60 yr or history of congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, or diabetes). IMPLICATIONS: Isolated systolic hypertension is associated with a 40% increase in the likelihood of perioperative cardiovascular morbidity in coronary artery surgery patients.

Adult↗

Gender differences in left ventricular chamber and midwall systolic function in normotensive and hypertensive adults.

OBJECTIVE: Whether left ventricular (LV) systolic function differs between healthy men and women independent of afterload, LV geometry, age, heart rate and body size is disputed. METHODS: We studied 517 clinically healthy adults without history of cardiovascular or endocrinal disease (age range 20-70, 274 with essential arterial hypertension). Echocardiography was used to assess LV geometry and systolic function both at endocardial and midwall levels. RESULTS: Normotensive and hypertensive women had higher LV systolic function at endocardial and midwall levels independent of afterload. After adjustment for age, body surface area, heart rate and LV geometry, LV systolic function remained higher in women than in men in hypertensive and normotensive subjects. In a second set of multivariate analyses adjusting for age, body mass index, LV geometry and heart rate, women had significantly higher LV systolic function than men, both among normotensive and hypertensive subjects. In a reference group of 95 subjects with optimal blood pressure and normal body mass index (mean age 34 +/- 10; 32 men) extracted from the study sample, lower limits (5th percentile) of parameters of LV systolic function were higher in women than in men. Use of gender-specific partition values revealed that subnormal LV chamber function was uncommon in overweight, normotensive subjects as well as in hypertensive subjects; vice versa, stress-corrected midwall dysfunction was frequently subnormal in both normotensive, overweight (14%, mostly women) and in hypertensive subjects (18%, mostly men). At the opposite end of the spectrum, gender-specific supranormal, stress-corrected LV systolic chamber function (> 95th percentile of the distribution in the reference group) was relatively frequent in both overweight, normotensive (14%) and in hypertensive subjects (27%). CONCLUSIONS: Clinically healthy hypertensive and normotensive women have higher LV chamber and midwall systolic function than men, independent of left ventricular geometry, body size, age and heart rate. Use of gender-specific partition values to define subnormal and supranormal LV systolic function revealed that, both in hypertensive and overweight normotensive subjects, subnormal LV chamber function was uncommon, whereas stress-corrected LV chamber systolic function was frequently supranormal. Vice versa, myocardial contractility was subnormal in approximately one-sixth of asymptomatic, normotensive overweight and of hypertensive subjects, with potentially unfavorable prognostic impact.

Adult↗

Systolic hypertension: the nephrologist's point of view.

The elevation of systolic blood pressure associated with aging has been considered for years a physiologic phenomenon. This idea was based on the repeated observation that, also after middle age, a large majority of individuals in industrialized countries experience a continuous and progressive increase over time in systolic blood pressure, not in diastolic blood pressure. However, some individuals in industrialized countries and most individuals in nonindustrialized countries do not acquire an increased systolic blood pressure over time proving that the age-associated rise in systolic blood pressure is not an inevitable phenomenon. The change in systolic blood pressure over time strongly reflects lifestyles. Diet-dependent factors such as body weight, alcohol intake, and balance between dietary salt and potassium, are important in favoring the age-associated increase in systolic blood pressure, independently of several confounders. Epidemiologic studies suggest that elevation of systolic blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases: it relates to high incidence of lethal and nonlethal cardiovascular events also in the presence of diastolic blood pressure in the nonhypertensive range. Controlled clinical trials show that the treatment of isolated systolic hypertension reduces the number of cardiovascular events. In addition to cardiovascular disease, systolic blood pressure relates also to microalbuminuria, an index of early glomerular damage, to long-term incidence of end-stage renal disease, and, in hemodialyzed patients, to premature death. Thus, high systolic blood pressure appears an unhealthy condition also for patients with or at risk for kidney diseases.

Aging↗

"Sawfish" systolic narrowing of the left anterior descending coronary artery: an angiographic sign of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The morphologic characteristics at coronary arteriography of systolic narrowing of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) were evaluated in 14 patients. Six patients had systolic narrowing of the LAD not associated with other cardiac abnormalities (group A) and eight patients had systolic narrowing of the LAD associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (group B). Patients in group A showed a smooth and progressive constriction of the vessel up to the point of maximal stenosis, giving it a "rat-tail" appearance. There was no systolic narrowing of septal branches or of other epicardial vessels in this group. In patients of group B, systolic narrowing of the LAD had a "saw-fish" appearance. Seven patients had systolic narrowing of the septal branches, and five had systolic narrowing of other epicardial vessels. These data indicate that systolic narrowing of the LAD in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy differs angiographically from systolic narrowing due to an intramural course of a part of the vessel (as in group A patients). We postulate that in patients with hypertropic cardiomyopathy, fiber hypertrophy and disarray in the vicinity of the coronary vessels is responsible for the morphology and the widespread distribution of systolic narrowing.

Adolescent↗

Simultaneous determination of left ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume and pressure-dimension relationships in closed-chest dogs.

The left ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relationship is a load-insensitive measure of left ventricular performance. The relationship at end-systole between left ventricular pressure and dimension is more easily obtained, but the conflicting results of previous studies make it unclear if it has the same properties as the left ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relationship. To address this issue, 11 dogs were instrumented to measure left ventricular pressure and three orthogonal left ventricular dimensions. Left ventricular pressure and dimensions were varied by use of caval occlusion. Left ventricular volume was calculated as an ellipsoid. The left ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relationship and each of the three end-systolic pressure-dimension relations were described by straight lines (r = .97 +/- .02, mean +/- SD). In six animals, dobutamine produced similar significant increases (p less than .01) in the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (244 +/- 61% of control), the end-systolic pressure-anterior-posterior dimension relationship (248 +/- 89%), the end-systolic pressure--septal-lateral dimension relationship (211 +/- 95%), and the end-systolic pressure-basal-apical dimension relationship (210 +/- 85%). The intercepts at zero pressure were relatively unchanged by dobutamine. In contrast, occlusion of the distal left anterior descending coronary artery in five animals produced a rightward shift of the left ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relationship and the pressure--basal-apical dimension relationship, while the pressure--anterior-posterior dimension and pressure--septal-lateral dimension relationships were relatively unaffected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗