# Vascular Determinants of Stage B HF among Hispanics: the role of the Heart-Vascular Interaction

> **NIH NIH R01** · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $1,194,650

## Abstract

Project Summary
Aortic stiffness increases markedly with age and is associated with hypertension, heart failure (HF) and
accelerated brain aging. Abnormal hemodynamic coupling between left ventricle and aorta contributes to
pathogenesis of target organ damage, particularly HF. Hispanics/Latinos have a higher incidence of HF
compared to non-Hispanic Whites and present younger with HF with more co-morbidities and a lower left
ventricular (LV) ejection fraction. Furthermore, the community-based Echocardiographic Study of Latinos
(ECHO-SOL [ES]; R01 PI: Rodriguez) has found that compared to published estimates in non-Hispanic
Whites, Hispanics have a higher HF risk factor burden, worse diastolic function and LV stiffness thus signaling
Hispanics at high risk for HF with preserved EF (HFpEF). ECHO-SOL 2 (ES2) (PI: Rodriguez) obtained serial
echos showing significantly worsening of echo parameters over an average of 4.3 years of follow-up.
Mechanism(s) for the susceptibility of Hispanics to HF are not well-accounted for by standard HF risk factors.
We hypothesize that vascular function and ventricular-arterial coupling significantly contributes to HF
pathogenesis and HF risk in Hispanics. Because the heart and vasculature are intimately coupled, LV stroke
volume depends on the important interaction of myocardial contractility with loading conditions from arterial
system compliance. There has been no study of comprehensive vascular function and ventricular-
arterial coupling assessment concomitant with a detailed echocardiographic exam in Hispanics. Thus,
we propose leveraging the resources of HCHS/SOL, ES and ES2 with longitudinal data on cardiac
phenotyping as well as clinical, sociocultural, and psychosocial risk factors to comprehensively characterize
vascular function in ES participants focusing on key primary pressure-flow phenotypes: carotid-femoral pulse
wave velocity, central pulse pressure, characteristic impedance and endothelial function [flow mediated
dilatation / hyperemic brachial flow velocities] concomitant with a detailed echocardiographic assessment
including 2D, color, spectral / tissue Doppler and speckle tracking.
Our application is focused on vascular dysfunction and its interaction / effects on the heart. Impaired
mechanical coupling contributes to combination of right and left heart abnormalities limits cardiac output and
contributes to the stage B HF (now termed pre-HF) to symptomatic HF, particularly HFpEF. Our goal is to
comprehensively describe vascular function pressure-flow relations and its determinants in Hispanics/Latinos.
(Aim 1) Then, determine how vascular function relates to cardiac structural and functional abnormalities
(including myocardial strain) to test the hypothesis that aortic stiffness impairs mechanical coupling. (Aim 2)
Because obtaining an echo exam is a natural component of our primary focus, we will have the benefit of
leveraging ~12 years of existing ES and ES2 longitudinal data to identify cardiac t...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10915701
- **Project number:** 5R01HL158156-03
- **Recipient organization:** ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Carlos Jose Rodriguez
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,194,650
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10915701

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10915701, Vascular Determinants of Stage B HF among Hispanics: the role of the Heart-Vascular Interaction (5R01HL158156-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10915701. Licensed CC0.

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