Relation Between Aortic Stiffness Index and Distensibility with Age in Hypertensive Patients

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure is associated with physiologic changes of aortic wall and left ventricular structure. We aimed to evaluate aortic stiffness index and distensibility, global longitudinal strain (GLS), post systolic index (PSI) in hypertensive patients and compare these parameters with normotensive subjects. Eighty-two patients (42 hypertensive compared with 40 normotensive subjects) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and without significant coronary artery disease were enrolled in the study. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured by automated BP measurement system. Aortic stiffness index and distensibility, GLS and PSI were measured by transthoracic echocardiography and compared in both study groups. Aortic stiffness index (0.097 vs 0.069) and E/e´ (8.16 vs 6.56) were significantly higher in hypertensive patients, respectively (