Relationship between plasma aldosterone and left ventricular structure and function in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Abstract

Aim. To study the relationship between plasma aldosterone level and left ventricular (LV) structure and function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).Material and methods. This prospective study included 158 patients (58 men and 100 women, mean age, 62,3±7,4 years) with compensated HFpEF. Patients had no history of primary aldosteronism and did not use the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists during the last 6 weeks. The plasma aldosterone was determined by enzyme immunoassay in all patients and the severity of structural and functional cardiac changes was assessed. The concentration of 40160 pg/ml was considered the reference values. Assessment of cardiac structure and function was carried out using transthoracic echocardiography.Results. According to the laboratory results, all patients were divided into two groups: group 1 — 99 (62,7%) patients (95% confidence interval (CI), 55,0-70,0%) with normal aldosterone levels; group 2 — 59 (37,3%) patients (95% Cl, 30,0-45,0%) with hyperaldosteronism. End-diastolic volume, left atrial volume, LV mass index, severity of LV diastolic dysfunction and the prevalence of concentric hypertrophy were significantly higher in group 2 patients compared with group 1 (p<0,05 for all). Blood aldosterone levels positively correlated with E/e’ (r=0,63, p<0,001). Regression analysis, adjusted for age and comorbidity, demonstrated that plasma aldosterone levels were closely associated with E/e’ (odds ratio, 3,42; 95% CI, 1,65-9,64, p=0,001) and LV concentric hypertrophy (odds ratio, 1,12; 95% CI, 1,08-3,16, p=0,042).Conclusion. The development of secondary hyperaldosteronism in patients with HFpEF is an independent predictor of LV diastolic dysfunction and unfavorable prognostic types of LV remodeling.