INTRODUCTION
There is an increasing body of evidence linking coronary microvascular
dysfunction (CMD) with left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction and a
future risk of developing heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection
fraction (HFpEF).1–3 This is of clinical significance
as it has been recently shown that patients with CMD-associated
diastolic dysfunction have an up to three-fold increased mortality rate
and up to five-fold risk of developing a major adverse cardiovascular
event (MACE).4 Previous studies have also reported
similar changes in the echocardiographic indices of diastolic
dysfunction in patients with CMD including reduction in left ventricular
(LV) early diastolic strain rate, early volumetric filling rate and
elevated LV filling pressures.5,6 However, there is a
relatively limited amount of published research in this area regarding
the relationship between CMD and LV diastolic function. A better
understanding could help target future therapies against this condition.
This study sought to investigate whether there was an association
between CMD and LV diastolic function in a group of patients presenting
with CPUCA.