Abstract:Objective To explore the relationship among myocardial diastolic function, myocardial contractility and aortic stiffness. Methods 29 patients with HFpEF and 53 age- and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled in this study. The arterial velocity pulse index (AVI), the parameters of structure Left ventricular interventricular septal thickness (IVSD), Left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWD), Left ventricular diastolic function E/A and E/e’, myocardial longitudinal contractility global longitudinal strain (GLS), myocardial circumferential contractility global circumferential strain (GCS), global contractility Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured respectively. Intergroup comparisons were analyzed by independent samples t- tests, and correlation analysis were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis and Logistic regression analysis. Results ① The arterial velocity pulse index (AVI) was higher in the HFpEF group than the control group (all P < 0.05). ② In the HFpEF group, IVSD and LVPWD were thicker (all P < 0.05), E/A decreased while E/e’ increased (all P < 0.01), longitudinal contractility GLS decreased (P < 0.01) than those in the control group, while the differences of myocardial circumferential contractility GCS and global contractility between the both groups were not statistically significant (all P >0.01). ③ The aortic stiffness AVI was negatively correlated with GCS (r=-0.241, P<0.05), and positively correlated with E/e’ (r=0.288, P<0.05) in univariate correlation analysis; AVI and LVPWD were negatively independent risk factor of HFpEF incidence in Logistic regression analysis, OR (95%CI) was 1.240 (1.045,1.471) and 2.448 (1.149,5.216) respectively. Conclusion The arterial stiffness increased, ventricular wall thickened, myocardial longitudinal contractility decreased, as the myocardial circumferential contractility and global contractility was normal in HFpEF patients. That changes were independently associated with arterial stiffness increasing and ventricular remodeling.