Relationship between γ-glutamyltransferase levels and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction

Background: The goal of this study was to examine the association of serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels with left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction and LV hypertrophy. Methods and Results: A cross-sectional study of 79,459 Korean men and women who underwent an echocardiography as part of a comprehensive health examination between March 2011 and December 2014. The presence of LV diastolic dysfunction and LV hypertrophy was determined using echocardiography. Of the subjects, 5,447 had LV diastolic dysfunction and 2,070 had LV hypertrophy. Both LV diastolic dysfunction and LV hypertrophy were associated with higher levels of serum GGT. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for LV diastolic dysfunction comparing serum GGT quartiles 2–4 with quartile 1 were 1.25 (1.08–1.44), 1.65 (1.43–1.91) and 2.23 (1.92–2.58), respectively (P for trend <0.001). Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for LV hypertrophy comparing serum GGT quartiles 2–4 with quartile 1 were 1.13 (0.94–1.36), 1.14 (0.93–1.40) and 1.33 (1.07–1.65), respectively (P for trend 0.01). These associations of serum GGT levels with LV diastolic dysfunction and LV hypertrophy were modified by age (P for interaction <0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated a positive association between serum GGT levels and LV diastolic dysfunction and LV hypertrophy in a large cohort of middle-aged men and women independent of potential confounders.