Abstract Body: Introduction: Simple, non-invasive assessment of cardiac function is useful in the management of heart failure (HF).
Hypothesis: We hypothesized that pulse waveform analysis from oscillometric cuff blood pressure (BP) measurement can estimate cardiac function. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of the pulse waveform index we developed from ambulatory BP monitoring, which represents cardiac systolic function in the ambulatory setting, with echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with HF.
Methods: A cuff volumetric waveform was obtained from the diastolic phase of each BP measurement with a multisensor ABPM (TM-2441, A&D). The area of the ejection portion is the square forward pulse wave (Sf), which is related to the cardiac ejection. The amplitude (Am) of the waveform represents arterial and cuff compliance. Sf is divided by Am, i.e., Sf/Am, to eliminate the effect of arterial and cuff compliance, which represents left ventricular systolic function (Figure).
Results: Patients with HF who were clinically stable in the inpatient or outpatient setting (n=195) underwent both measurements of the multisensor-ABPM and echocardiography. LVEF was determined by the modified Simpson’s method. Patient characteristics were as follows: mean age, 72.1±14.7 years; male, 57%; and atrial fibrillation (AF), 39%. Sf/Am was associated with LVEF (r=0.44, p<0.001) (Figure). This association was also significant in the multivariable linear regression model including age, sex, body mass index, use of HF medications, coronary artery disease, and AF (β=0.43, p<0.001).
Conclusions: Sf/Am, which is obtained by ABPM, is associated with echocardiographic LVEF.