Decreased aorto-septal angle may contribute to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in healthy subjects

ABSTRACT Background Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is often observed in healthy older subjects without structural heart disease, although its exact mechanisms have not been established. A decrease in the aorto‐septal angle (ASA), an alteration of LV shape due to aortic elongation, is also frequently seen in elderly subjects. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether it can contribute to LV diastolic dysfunction in healthy subjects. Methods Echocardiography was performed in 77 healthy subjects (42 men, mean age 43.2 ± 13.8 years) to measure the ASA, early diastolic transmitral flow velocity (E), isovolumic relaxation time (IRT), and early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e′). The LV peak early diastolic longitudinal strain rate (GSRE) was measured using a two‐dimensional speckle tracking imaging technique. Results ASA was significantly correlated with E (r = 0.54, p