ABSTRACT
150 males with mild to moderate essential hypertension [EH] were examined echocardiographically and the findings in the left ventricle [LV] were compared with those in 20 normotensive men. Increased LV wall thickness and LV mass was found in 81% and 67% of hypertensives respectively in contrast with a complete absence of LV hypertrophy in normotensives. The former showed also a tendency to the concentric type hypertrophy, which can be considered a characteristic feature of the 2nd stage [WHO] EH. There was an almost uniform incidence of asymmetric septal hypertrophy in the two groups [12 vs. 10%]. Decreased LV end-systolic wall stress in EH was a sign of compensatory myocardial hypertrophy without LV dilatation. The hypertensives exhibited a normal or slightly elevated systolic LV function. On the other hand, some indirect indices of LV properties [peak rate of LV relaxation and left atrial dimension] were indicative of diastolic function impairment. A slight but significant correlation between the degree of LV hypertrophy and systemic blood pressure at rest was found in a part of hypertensive patients. The study indicates that mild to moderate EH leads to some changes in LV morphology and function, which can be easily recognized by echocardiography.
Subject(s)
Cardiac Volume , Heart Ventricles/physiopathology , Hypertension/physiopathology , Myocardial Contraction , Adult , Blood Pressure , Cardiomegaly/physiopathology , Echocardiography , Heart Septum/physiopathology , Humans , Male , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Cholesterol/blood , Coronary Disease/diagnosis , Lipoproteins, HDL/blood , Blood Pressure , Cholesterol, HDL , Czechoslovakia , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Risk , SmokingSubject(s)
Cardiomegaly/pathology , Electrocardiography , Myocardium/pathology , Aged , Cardiomegaly/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Casual blood pressures were evaluated in 13 475 children and adolescents of elementary and secondary schools in the district of Prague 4. Measurements in an unselected children population determined mean systolic and diastolic pressures and standard deviations in different age groups. Children with elevated blood pressure were selected according to arbitrarily chosen criteria. Blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 mmHg (17.3/10.6 kPa) occurred in 0.6% of children aged 6-10 years, greater than 135/80 mmHg (17.9/10 kPa) in 2.0% of children aged between 11-15 years, and greater than 145/85 mmHg (19.2/11.3 kPa) in 0.4% of adolescents under 19 years.
Subject(s)
Blood Pressure , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Diastole , Female , Humans , Male , Reference Values , Sex Factors , SystoleSubject(s)
Coronary Disease/diagnosis , Exercise Test , Coronary Disease/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , PrognosisABSTRACT
Screening for the risk factors of ischaemic heart disease among the male residents of the district of Prague 4 aged 40--49 years was undertaken under the "National multifactorial primary preventive study of myocardial infarction and stroke". Of the 11 091 men invited, 5395 met the defined criteria and were admitted to the study. 58% of them were included in the risk group. The level of attained school education was ascertained at the initial examination. The lowest percentage of persons with hypercholesterolaemia, overweight, elevated blood pressure and smokers was found among university graduates. The results are compared with data of other studies and possible causes of the findings are discussed.
