4 Cardiology Research and Practice Table 2: Clinical and hemodynamic features of patient subgroups stratiﬁed by left ventricular relaxation time constant (Tau) and peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e ). 0.83 ± 0.19 0.85 ± 0.21 0.83 ± 0.19 0.87 ± 0.20 Age, year Men Hypertension Diabetes Dyslipidemia Body mass index, kg/m2 Previous myocardial infarction Previous coronary revascularization Coronary revascularization after the index cardiac catheterization Serum creatinine, mg/dL Medications Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers β-blocker Calcium blocker Statins Antiplatelet agents 0 1 >1 Number of coronary arteries narrowed Heart rate, beat/min Systolic aortic pressure, mmHg Diastolic aortic pressure, mmHg Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, mmHg Relaxation time constant (Tau), ms Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, mL/m2 Left ventricular end-systolic volume index, mL/m2 Ejection fraction, % ≤48 ms (n = 127) 67 ± 8 76% 23.8 ± 3.1 47% 40% 80% 48% 42% 18% 39% 30% 35% 52% 77% 32% 26% 42% 71 ± 12 142 ± 27 69 ± 11 12.3 ± 3.8 40.2 ± 5.1 77.0 ± 16.3 26.6 ± 12.2 66 ± 10 ≥5.8 cm/s (n = 153) 65 ± 8 80% 23.9 ± 3.3 52% 35% 83% 53% 44% 19% 38% 41% 37% 58% 81% 31% 26% 43% 68 ± 12 137 ± 24 68 ± 10 14.2 ± 5.2 45.2 ± 9.3 80.3 ± 17.4 29.2 ± 15.0 65 ± 12 observed in EDP > 16 mmHg (HR [95% CI] = 1.36 [0.61– 3.0], P = 0.4), EF < 50% (0.83 [0.29–2.4], P = 0.7), or E/e > 13.2 (2.02 [0.76–5.42], P = 0.2). Survival curves of patients stratiﬁed by Tau and e are shown in Figure 1. Among other variables listed in Table 1, signiﬁcant predictors for death or cardiovascular hospitalization included age (HR [95% CI] = 2.21 [1.31–3.71] per 1-SD increment, P < 0.01). Clinical features of patients stratiﬁed by Tau and e are shown in Table 2. Compared with patients with Tau ≤ 48 ms, those with Tau > 48 ms were more likely to have dyslipidemia and history of myocardial infarction, to be prescribed β- blockers, and to undergo coronary revascularization after the index cardiac catheterization. Compared with patients with e ≥ 5.8 cm/s, those with e < 5.8 cm/s were more likely to be older, to have diabetes and history of myocardial infarction, to be prescribed angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/ angiotensin receptor blockers, and to undergo coronary re- vascularization after the index cardiac catheterization and were less likely to be prescribed calcium blockers. Hemodynamic and echocardiographic features of patients stratiﬁed by Tau and e are also shown in Tables 2 and 3. Compared with patients with Tau ≤ 48 ms, those with Tau > 48 ms were more likely to have greater number of coronary arteries narrowed and higher levels of heart rate, Tau >48 ms (n = 95) 67 ± 9 82% 24.5 ± 3.3 53% 41% 94% 76% 53% 31% 48% 56% 29% 66% 87% 15% 26% 59% 64 ± 10 134 ± 21 67 ± 11 17.2 ± 5.7 54.6 ± 6.1 96.1 ± 23.1 43.9 ± 22.3 56 ± 14 P Value NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS <0.01 <0.001 NS <0.05 <0.001 <0.05 <0.01 <0.001 <0.05 NS <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 e <5.8 cm/s (n = 69) 70 ± 6 75% 24.6 ± 3.0 49% 53% 91% 75% 52% 33% 55% 41% 23% 60% 82% 12% 26% 62% 69 ± 11 143 ± 27 68 ± 12 14.8 ± 5.4 48.9 ± 8.1 95.9 ± 25.8 44.5 ± 23.1 56 ± 14 P value <0.001 NS NS NS <0.05 NS <0.01 NS <0.05 NS <0.05 NS <0.05 NS NS <0.01 NS 0.07 NS NS <0.01 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001