Aortic diastolic pressure decay explains sex-related differences in the subendocardial viability ratio: the Wakuya study

Objective: Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of mortality in women. Despite a higher risk of heart failure after the first myocardial infarction in women compared with men, the sex-specific mechanisms are unknown. We hypothesized that myocardial ischemia is attributable to sex-related diastolic alterations in the central hemodynamics. Methods: We investigated the subendocardial viability ratio (myocardial oxygen supply/demand) and aortic diastolic pressure decay index in 962 apparently healthy adults (mean age, 56 ± 10 years). Using noninvasive applanation tonometry, the subendocardial viability ratio, aortic diastolic pressure decay index, and aortic augmentation index were estimated in all participants. The aortic diastolic pressure decay index was quantified by fitting an exponential curve: P(t) = P0e−λt (λ, decay index; P0, end-systolic pressure; t, time from end-systole). Results: Women showed a significantly higher aortic diastolic pressure decay index, even after adjusting for age, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes, and a significantly lower subendocardial viability ratio than men (P 
Source: Journal of Hypertension - Category: Cardiology Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research