Increased left ventricular mass is not associated with impaired left ventricular diastolic filling in normal individuals

Background Hypertensive left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy has been associat ed with diastolic dysfunction. However, the underlying physiological relati onship between LV size and diastolic function remains to be clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between several measures of diastolic filling and LV mass in a population sample. Methods We used M-mode and Doppler echocardiography to compare left ventric ular mass index (LVMI) and wail thickness with five measures of ventricular diastolic filling (ratio of the peak early mitral inflow velocity to the p eak atrial mitral inflow velocity, deceleration time of early mitral inflow , isovolumetric relaxation time, ratio of the peak pulmonary venous systoli c to diastolic flow and difference between the durations of the pulmonary v enous and mitral inflow atrial waves) in 159 healthy volunteers. Results LVMI was significantly(P < 0.0001) greater in men (81.3 g/m(2), int erquartile range: 67-94) than women (59.7 g/m(2), interquartiie range: 49-7 4), but no gender differences were observed in diastolic filling. Higher ag e, blood pressure and heart rate showed significant correlation with dimini shed diastolic filling. However, no measure of diastolic filling correlated with LVMI or wall thickness in either univariate or multiple regression an alyses that adjusted for relevant covariates. Conclusions LVMI does not explain physiological differences in diastolic fi lling. The significant decline in diastolic filling with age reflects chang es in the quality rather than the quantity of myocardial tissue. J Hyperten s 2000, 18:757-762 (C) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.