Aortic Root Dilatation Is Associated With Incident Cardiovascular Events in a Population of Treated Hypertensive Patients: The Campania Salute Network

Background: Aortic root (AR) dimension (ARD) at the Valsalva sinuses has been associated with incident cardiovascular (CV) events in population-based studies, but this effect could be due to the association with increased left ventricular (LV) mass. There is also uncertainty on how to define clear-cut AR dilatation. Thus, we analyzed the Campania Salute Network (CSN) registry to (i) establish criteria for evaluation of ARD, (ii) propose cut-points for AR dilatation, and (iii) determine whether AR dilatation has prognostic value independent of LV hypertrophy (LVH).

Methods: We analyzed hypertensive patients with available follow-up, in sinus rhythm and free of prevalent valvular and CV disease (n = 8,573). AR exceeding the 75th percentile of the AR z-score (Ao-Z) obtained by comparison with the value predicted by age, sex, and height (i.e., Ao-Z > 0.80) was considered dilated.

Results: Patients with baseline-dilated ARD by Ao-Z were more likely to be younger, men, and obese and had higher baseline blood pressure (BP; all <0.02) but similar kidney function as those without ARD dilatation. In multivariable Cox regression model, dilated ARD predicted 36% increased rate of CV events, independently of older age, male sex, systolic BP, LVH, and class of antihypertensive medications used during follow-up (95% confidence interval: 1.07-1.71, P = 0.011).

Conclusions: In the context of a population of treated hypertensive patients, ARD defined by z-score of predicted values is an independent predictor of CV events regardless of LVH and other common confounders.

Clinical Trials Registration: Trial Number NCT02211365.