prevalence and correlates of echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients

ABSTRACT

Sixty-one patients with systemic hypertension [HT] aged 28 to 75 years were studied by echocardiography to determine left ventricular hypertrophy [LVH] and its correlates. Fifteen normal controls were studied, also. Patients were divided according to blood pressure [BP] into three classes Mild, moderate and severe HT. They were divided also according to left ventricular mass index [LVMI] into three groups Group 1 [LVMI <95 g/m2 [=normal + 2 SD]], group 2 [LVMI 95-120 g/m2] and group 3 [LVMI >120 g/m2 [LVH group]]. Incidence of LVH was 75% [12 out of 16] in severe HT patients, 29% [6 out of 21] in moderate HT, and 4% [1 in 24] in the mild HT patients. Total 31% [19/61]. In the 19 patients with LVH, ECG revealed LVH in 7 [37%], but revealed LVH in 7 other patients. Percent fiber shortening [% FS] was 29% or less in 7 [37%]. Vcf was 0.9 or less in 10 [53%]. Diastolic function was assessed by LV posterior wall velocity in diastole [PWVD], it was 78 +/- 21 mm/s in LVH group, 93 +/- 23 in group 1 and 121 +/- 28 in normotensive controls [P <0.05 and <0.0001, respectively]. In conclusion, LVH was detected by echo in 31% of HT patients and was significantly related to the level of BP. ECG revealed LVH in 14 patients; systolic dysfunction was detected in 53% and 37% as assessed by Vcf and% FS, respectively. Diastolic function was significantly lower in LVH than in hypertensive patients without LVH