Augmentation index, left ventricular contractility, and wave reflection

Augmentation index (AIx), a correlate of mortality, is thought to be influenced by left ventricular contractility and wave reflections. However, the relationship of AIx with left ventricular contractility changes has never been assessed, and the wave reflection theory has recently been questioned. This study sought to examine arterial waveform changes in response to reduced "wave reflection" and increased left ventricular contractility induced by dobutamine. Simultaneous radial tonometry (for AIx) and tissue Doppler echocardiography (for peak longitudinal systolic strain rate [SR] as an analogue of left ventricular contractility) were recorded at rest and peak dobutamine-induced stress in 50 patients (41 men; aged 62+/-10 years). From baseline to peak stress there was an increase in heart rate (70+/-11 to 127+/-17 bpm; P<0.001) and SR (-0.88+/-0.23 to 1.81+/-0.43 1/s; P<0.001), whereas AIx decreased (27+/-9% to 7+/-15%; P<0.001). There was also a greater increase in the systolic (compared with diastolic) pressure-time integral relative to cardiac cycle length (3.2+/-1.9 versus 1.8+/-1.1 mm Hg; P<0.001), indicating that wave reflection was not shifted into diastole as per the current belief. AIx was significantly associated with ejection duration (r=0.88), heart rate (r=-0.81), and SR (r=0.72; P<0.001 for all). However, when SR was heart rate corrected, there was no significant association with AIx (r=0.18; P=0.11). The strongest independent correlate of AIx was ejection duration, accounting for 78% variance (β0.88; model R²=0.77; P<0.001). Neither SR (β=0.12; P=0.18) nor heart rate-corrected SR (β=0.02; P=0.72) was associated with AIx. We conclude that AIx is determined by chronotropic rather than inotropic effects, as well as factors other than wave reflection.