Relationship between vascular aging and left ventricular geometry in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome-related hypertension

This study aimed to investigate the association of the vascular aging and left ventricular geometry in OSAHS-related hypertension population with good blood pressure control. A retrospective study was conducted at the Third Xiangya Hospital, collecting data from patients admitted between August 1, 2022, and January 1, 2024. Vascular aging parameters were collected, including ankle-brachial index (ABI), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Left ventricular mass index (LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and left ventricular concentric geometry (LVCG) were collected to assess left ventricular geometry patterns. Spearman correlation analysis, generalized linear regression, and logistic regression were used to assess the associations of the vascular aging and left ventricular geometry. A total of 238 patients were included. Significant positive correlations were found between baPWV and LVMI (Rs = 0.26, P < 0.001), baPWV and RWT (Rs = 0.37, P < 0.001), cIMT and LVMI (Rs = 0.24, P < 0.001), and cIMT and RWT (Rs = 0.34, P < 0.001). Generalized linear regression model indicated that both baPWV (β = 0.84, P = 0.01 for LVMI; β = 0.005, P < 0.001 for RWT) and cIMT (β = 27.54, P = 0.01 for LVMI; β = 0.13, P < 0.001 for RWT) were associated with LVMI and RWT, respectively. Logistic regression revealed that baPWV (OR = 1.08, 95%CI 1.02-1.15) and cIMT (OR = 1.30, 95%CI 1.06-1.60) were associated with LVH. baPWV (OR = 1.44, 95%CI 1.28-1.65) and cIMT (OR = 1.54, 95%CI 1.21-1.96) also showed associations with LVCG. Subgroup analyses based on gender and BMI suggested that the results were robust. This study showed that vascular aging parameters may be used to assess changes in left ventricular geometry of patients with OSAHS-related hypertension.