Carotid atherosclerosis is associated with left ventricular diastolic function

Background It has been reported that carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) correlates with the risk of stroke or cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships between echocardiographic findings and carotid atherosclerosis. Methods A total of 234 patients (62 ± 15 years) were referred for echocardiography to evaluate the left ventricular (LV) function. The LV ejection fraction, the ratio of the peak velocity of early rapid filling and the peak velocity of atrial filling ( E / A ), and the peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity ( e ′) were obtained by echocardiography. The maximum IMT (Max-IMT) and plaque score (PS) were measured by carotid ultrasonography within 1 month of the echocardiographic examination. Results The mean values of Max-IMT and carotid PS were 2.41 ± 1.23 mm and 8.5 ± 6.3, respectively. The decreased mean E / A (0.94 ± 0.39) and mitral e ′ (5.5 ± 1.9 cm/s) indicated LV diastolic dysfunction. A good correlation was observed between Max-IMT and PS ( r = 0.83, p < 0.0001). It was shown that 2.8 mm of Max-IMT was equivalent to 10.1 of carotid PS, which indicated severe carotid atherosclerosis. In multiple logistic stepwise regression analysis, among the echocardiographic parameters, only e ′ was independently associated with severe carotid atherosclerosis (Max-IMT ≥ 2.8 mm or PS ≥ 10.1). Conclusions The present study demonstrated that decreased early diastolic mitral annular velocity relates to the parameter reflecting carotid atherosclerosis. Therefore, the presence of severe carotid atherosclerosis may affect LV diastolic dysfunction.