Personality traits and hypertension-mediated organ damage. / Cechy osobowosci a powiklania narzadowe nadcisnienia tetniczego.

OBJECTIVES: Arterial hypertension may lead to the development of organ changes. This study compares different personality traits in hypertensive patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy and arterial stiffness. METHODS: The study group consisted of 93 subjects (47 males and 46 females) with primary hypertension. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were evaluated and used as markers of cardiac and vascular damage. Personality traits of each patient were assessed using three psychometric tools: NEO-FFI, DS14 and EAS. RESULTS: Patients with increased PWV scored significantly lower than individuals with normal PWVin the following scales: NEO-FFI Neuroticism (18 vs. 27.5; p = 0.018), DS14 Negative affectivity (11.5 vs. 17; p = 0.035) and EAS Fear (10 vs. 13; p = 0.004). Subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy (increased LVMI values) presented lower levels of openness to experience (measured by the NEO-FFI) than persons with normal LVMI values (23 vs. 26; p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that there are significant differences in personality traits between hypertensive patients with and without vascular and cardiac damage.

Sense of coherence and hypertensive target organ damage. / Poczucie koherencji a powiklania narzadowe nadcisnienia tetniczego.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare the level of sense of coherence in hypertensive patients with arterial stiffness or leftventricular hypertrophy and in hypertensive individuals without such health complications. METHODS: The study group consisted of 93 participants. All of them were asked to undergo the following procedures: clinical assessment, echocardiography (to diagnose hypertensive cardiac damage), pulse wave velocity measurement (to assess vascular damage) and psychological testing (to measure their level of comprehensibility, manageability, meaningfulness, and sense of coherence). RESULTS: Patients with hypertensive vascular damage (high pulse wave velocity) had higher levels of comprehensibility and sense of coherence than other hypertensive subjects. At the same time, there were no significant differences in the level of sense of coherence (and all of its dimensions) between individuals with and people without hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest, that the sense of coherence may not be strongly associated with good somatic health. They may also contribute to the discussion about diagnostic usefulness of the SOC-29 method as a single tool. We believe that the level of sense of coherence should be taken into consideration in further studies on the development of hypertensive TOD.

Left Ventricular Mass, Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Cognitive Performance: Results From the Strong Heart Study.

Left ventricular mass (LVM) has been shown to serve as a measure of target organ damage resulting from chronic exposure to several risk factors. Data on the association of midlife LVM with later cognitive performance are sparse. We studied 721 adults (mean age 56 years at baseline) enrolled in the Strong Heart Study (SHS, 1993-1995) and the ancillary CDCAI (Cerebrovascular Disease and Its Consequences in American Indians) Study (2010-2013), a study population with high prevalence of cardiovascular disease. LVM was assessed with transthoracic echocardiography at baseline in 1993 to 1995. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive testing were undertaken between 2010 and 2013. Generalized estimating equations were used to model associations between LVM and later imaging and cognition outcomes. The mean follow-up period was 17 years. A difference of 25 g in higher LVM was associated with marginally lower hippocampal volume (0.01%; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.00; P=0.001) and higher white matter grade (0.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.18; P=0.014). Functionally, participants with higher LVM tended to have slightly lower scores on the modified mini-mental state examination (0.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-0.08; P=0.024). The main results persisted after adjusting for blood pressure levels or vascular disease. The small overall effect sizes are partly explained by survival bias because of the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease in our population. Our findings emphasize the role of cardiovascular health in midlife as a target for the prevention of deleterious cognitive and functional outcomes in later life.

Does left ventricular hypertrophy affect cognition and brain structural integrity in type 2 diabetes? Study design and rationale of the Diabetes and Dementia (D2) study.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is common in type 2 diabetes mellitus, and there is a strong association between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. However, we do not know which type 2 diabetes patients will dement or which biomarkers predict cognitive decline. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is potentially such a marker. LVH is highly prevalent in type 2 diabetes and is a strong, independent predictor of cardiovascular events. To date, no studies have investigated the association between LVH and cognitive decline in type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes and Dementia (D2) study is designed to establish whether patients with type 2 diabetes and LVH have increased rates of brain atrophy and cognitive decline. METHODS: The D2 study is a single centre, observational, longitudinal case control study that will follow 168 adult patients aged >50 years with type 2 diabetes: 50% with LVH (case) and 50% without LVH (control). It will assess change in cardiovascular risk, brain imaging and neuropsychological testing between two time-points, baseline (0 months) and 24 months. The primary outcome is brain volume change at 24 months. The co-primary outcome is the presence of cognitive decline at 24 months. The secondary outcome is change in left ventricular mass associated with brain atrophy and cognitive decline at 24 months. DISCUSSION: The D2 study will test the hypothesis that patients with type 2 diabetes and LVH will exhibit greater brain atrophy than those without LVH. An understanding of whether LVH contributes to cognitive decline, and in which patients, will allow us to identify patients at particular risk. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ( ACTRN12616000546459 ), date registered, 28/04/2016.

FGF-23 and cognitive performance in hemodialysis patients.

Although cognitive impairment is common in hemodialysis patients, the etiology of and risk factors for its development remain unclear. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) levels are elevated in hemodialysis patients and are associated with increased mortality and left ventricular hypertrophy. Despite FGF-23 being found within the brain, there are no prior studies assessing whether FGF-23 levels are associated with cognitive performance. We measured FGF-23 in 263 prevalent hemodialysis patients in whom comprehensive neurocognitive testing was also performed. The cross-sectional association between patient characteristics and FGF-23 levels was assessed. Principal factor analysis was used to derive two factors from cognitive test scores, representing memory and executive function, which carried a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. Multivariable linear regression adjusting for age, sex, education status, and other relevant covariates was used to explore the relationship between FGF-23 and each factor. Mean age was 63 years, 46% were women and 22% were African American. The median FGF-23 level was 3098 RU/mL. Younger age, lower prevalence of diabetes, longer dialysis vintage, and higher calcium and phosphorus were independently associated with higher FGF-23 levels. Higher FGF-23 was independently associated with a lower memory score (per doubling of FGF-23, ß = -0.08 SD [95% confidence interval, CI: -0.16, -0.01]) and highest quartile vs. lowest quartile (ß = -0.42 SD [-0.82, -0.02]). There was no definite association of FGF 23 with executive function when examined as a continuous variable (ß = -0.03 SD [-0.10, 0.04]); however, there was a trend in the quartile analysis (ß = -0.28 SD [-0.63, 0.07], P = 0.13, for 4th quartile vs. 1st quartile). FGF-23 was associated with worse performance on a composite memory score, including after adjustment for measures of mineral metabolism. High FGF-23 levels in hemodialysis patients may contribute to cognitive impairment.

Vascular risk factors and cognitive impairment in a stroke-free cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To examine vascular risk factors, as measured by the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (FSRP), to predict incident cognitive impairment in a large, national sample of black and white adults age 45 years and older. METHODS: Participants included subjects without stroke at baseline from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study with at least 2 cognitive function assessments during the follow-up (n = 23,752). Incident cognitive impairment was defined as decline from a baseline score of 5 or 6 (of possible 6 points) to the most recent follow-up score of 4 or less on the Six-item Screener (SIS). Subjects with suspected stroke during follow-up were censored. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 4.1 years, 1,907 participants met criteria for incident cognitive impairment. Baseline FSRP score was associated with incident cognitive impairment. An adjusted model revealed that male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43-1.77), black race (OR = 2.09, 95% CI 1.88-2.35), less education (less than high school graduate vs college graduate, OR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.88-2.60), older age (10-year increments, OR = 2.11, per 10-year increase in age, 95% CI 2.05-2.18), and presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH, OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.06-1.58) were related to development of cognitive impairment. When LVH was excluded from the model, elevated systolic blood pressure was related to incident cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Total FSRP score, elevated blood pressure, and LVH predict development of clinically significant cognitive dysfunction. Prevention and treatment of high blood pressure may be effective in preserving cognitive health.

Cardiac structure and function and dependency in the oldest old.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between cardiac function and activities of daily living (ADLs) in an age-homogenous, community-dwelling population born in 1920 and 1921. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort study. SETTING: Community-dwelling elderly population. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were recruited from the Jerusalem Longitudinal Cohort Study, which has followed an age-homogenous cohort of Jerusalem residents born in 1920 and 1921. Four hundred eighty-nine of the participants (228 male, 261 female) from the most recent set of data collection in 2005 and 2006 underwent echocardiography at their place of residence in addition to structured interviews and physical examination. MEASUREMENTS: A home-based comprehensive assessment was performed to assess health and functional status, including performance of ADLs. Dependence was defined as needing assistance with one or more basic ADLs. Standard echocardiographic assessment of cardiac structure and function, including ejection fraction (EF) and diastolic function as assessed using early diastolic mitral annular tissue velocity measurements obtained using tissue Doppler, was performed. RESULTS: Of the participants with limitation in at least one ADL, significantly more had low EF (< 55%) than the group that was independent (52.6 % vs 39.1%; P=.01). In addition, participants with dependence in ADL had higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (129.3 vs 119.7 g/m²) and left atrial volume index (LAVI) (41.3 vs 36.7 mL/m²). There were no differences between the groups in percentage of participants with impaired diastolic function or average ratio of early diastolic transmitral flow velocity to early diastolic mitral annular tissue velocity (11.5 vs 11.8; P=.64). CONCLUSION: In this age-homogenous cohort of the oldest old, high LVMI and LAVI and indices of systolic but not diastolic function as assessed according to Doppler were associated with limitations in ADLs.

Association between social isolation and left ventricular mass.

BACKGROUND: Social isolation is associated with progression of cardiovascular disease, with the most socially isolated patients being at increased risk. Increased left ventricular mass is a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is not yet clear whether social isolation is a determinant of increased left ventricular mass. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of Northern Manhattan Study participants who were free of clinical cardiovascular disease and had obtained transthoracic echocardiograms (n=2021) and a baseline questionnaire on social habits. Social isolation was defined as the lack of friendship networks (knowing fewer than 3 people well enough to visit within their homes). Echocardiographic left ventricular mass was indexed to height(2.7), analyzed as a continuous variable and compared between exposure groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of social isolation was 13.5%. The average left ventricular mass was significantly higher (50.2 gm/m(2.7)) in those who were, as compared with those who were not (47.6 gm/m(2.7)), socially isolated (P<.05). Higher prevalence of social isolation was found among those less educated, uninsured, or unemployed. There were no significant race-ethnic differences in the prevalence of social isolation. In multivariate analysis, there was a trend toward an association between social isolation and increased left ventricular mass in the total cohort (P=.09). Among Hispanics, social isolation was significantly associated with greater left ventricular mass. Hispanics who were socially isolated averaged 3.9 gm/ht(2.7) higher left ventricular mass compared with those not socially isolated (P=.002). This relationship was not present among non-Hispanic blacks or whites. CONCLUSION: In this urban tri-ethnic cohort, social isolation was prevalent and associated with indices of low socioeconomic status. Hispanics who were socially isolated had a greater risk for increased left ventricular mass.

Depression is associated with increased occurrence of left ventricle concentric geometry in older subjects independently of blood pressure levels.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Depression is emerging as an independent risk factor for CV events, though mechanisms underlying this association are unknown. We investigated the relation between depression and LV hypertrophy (LVH) and LV structure in a group of elderly subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three hundred seventy patients (mean age 79 ± 6 years) were enrolled. CV risk factors were assessed. Depression was defined as a score ≥ 6 on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. On the basis of the presence of LVH and of LV relative wall thickness (RWT) 4 echocardiographic patterns of LV adaptation were defined: concentric LVH (LVH with increased RWT); eccentric LVH (LVH with normal RWT); concentric LV remodeling (no LVH with increased RWT); normal LV (no LVH with normal RWT). Prevalence of hypertension was approximately 86% and 24.7% had diabetes (n.s. depressed vs not depressed subjects). BP was comparable in these two groups (134.7 ± 1.4 vs 135.3 ± 1.8 mmHg, 77.1 ± 0.8 vs 76.3 ± 1.0 mmHg for SBP and DBP respectively). Depressed subjects (n = 165) showed a significantly higher occurrence of concentric LVH than not depressed, after adjustment for age, sex, and hypertension. Depression was associated with a 2.1 fold higher risk of showing a LV concentric, either remodeling or LVH, pattern after adjustment for age, sex, and traditional CV risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Depression is accompanied by a higher occurrence of concentric LVH in elderly subjects, independently of BP levels.

Masked, white coat and sustained hypertension: comparison of target organ damage and psychometric parameters.

Masked hypertension is defined as low clinic and elevated out-of-clinic pressure (blood pressure, BP) assessed either by patients at home or by ambulatory monitoring. This study compared the cardiovascular status and psychometric characteristics of masked, white coat and sustained hypertensives. Three groups of consecutive subjects with masked (n=100, age 59+/-11 years), white coat (n=100, 60+/-10 years) and sustained hypertension (n=100, 60+/-11 years) diagnosed by ambulatory BP monitoring were compared. Masked hypertensives had higher educational level, exercised more frequently, received fewer drugs and sensed more responsibilities at work than at home. Their left ventricular hypertrophy indexes fall in-between those with white coat and sustained, the latter having the highest values. The estimated total cardiovascular risk was intermediate between white coat and sustained, whereas their cardiovascular morbidity and renal disease was higher than that of white coat and similar to sustained. Psychological profile analysis showed lower score for type-A personality and their mood behaviour in the hypomania-euthymia range compared with white coat and sustained hypertensives. The cardiovascular risk of masked hypertensives is higher than that of white coat and similar to sustained. Masked hypertensives have higher educational level, better physical training and different personality/mood pattern than white coat and sustained.

Cerebrovascular risk factors and incident depression in community-dwelling elderly.

OBJECTIVE: The 'vascular depression' hypothesis suggests that late-life depression results from vascular brain damage. We studied the longitudinal association between cerebrovascular risk factors and incident depression in a large population-based study. METHOD: Two thousand nine hundred and thirty-one persons with the age of > or =61 years were followed up. Data on a comprehensive set of cerebrovascular risk factors were collected at baseline. Participants received a psychiatric assessment 5 years later to establish DSM-IV diagnoses. RESULTS: Only current smoking and antihypertensive drug use were independently associated with incident depressive symptoms. Diabetes mellitus and the Framingham stroke risk score were related to incident depressive disorder. No relation with depression was observed for cholesterol, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, history of cardiovascular disease, atrial fibrillation, left ventricular hypertrophy or the use of statins and anticoagulants. CONCLUSION: These results moderately support the 'vascular depression' hypothesis.

[Risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, cerebral hemodynamics and psychological features of personality: correlation in young males depending on prognosis of essential hypertension].

AIM: To evaluate correlations between risk factors (RF) of cardiovascular diseases, cerebral hemodynamics and psychological personal features in healthy males aged 20-29 with reference to 10-year prognosis of arterial hypertension (AH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: For 10-year follow-up AH affected 886 initially healthy males aged 20-29 years (9%). RF effects on AH onset were revealed with the regression analysis. RESULTS: AH risk factors were the following: alcohol intake, overweight, total cholesterol, hereditary predisposition to cardiovascular diseases, left ventricular hypertrophy, cerebral vascular dystonia, low physical activity out of office. CONCLUSION: RF can be divided into those associated with psychological response and independent. Salt intake dose and smoking do not influence 10-year prognosis at this age.

Cardiovascular reactivity and left ventricular mass: an integrative review.

Left ventricular hypertrophy has been shown to be an independent predictor of risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Behavioral scientists have focused on how hemodynamic factors influenced by psychosocial stress may be associated with left ventricular mass (LVM). We reviewed existing studies examining stress-related cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) and LVM, with a goal of examining the moderating role of population (age and hypertensive status) and methodological factors (task type, sample size, and study design) explaining the observed results. Twenty-one studies met the criteria for this review. Results showed only a modestly consistent relationship between CVR and LVM. Forty-three percent of the studies reported 1 or more significant results linking systolic blood pressure reactivity with LVM, and 14% of the studies showed that diastolic blood pressure reactivity was significantly related to LVM. Hypertensive status, task type, and sample size did not play a major role in moderating the relationship between LVM and CVR. A somewhat larger percentage of positive results was shown in prospective and adult studies. The association between CVR and LVM may be real, although the effect size is modest, and we discuss methodological strategies for enhancing statistical power in future investigations. Additional sampling factors (e.g., race, gender) may also impact this relationship. Finally, greater attention is warranted to the role of the psychosocial environment, as this may interact with reactivity to influence LVM.

Marital support, spousal contact and the course of mild hypertension.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: To define marital support (MS) and its correlates in a sample of mild hypertensives where marital adjustment (by Dyadic Adjustment Scale, DAS) was related to 3-year left ventricular mass, a secondary analysis was performed on 103 men and women who underwent 24-h ambulatory BP (ABP) monitoring, M-mode echocardiography and completed psychosocial questionnaires at baseline and 3 years. RESULTS: MS, defined as the presence of both marital satisfaction and cohesion (upper quartiles of DAS subscales) at baseline, predicted 3-year left ventricular mass (P=.007), which decreased 8% in the MS group and increased 6.26% in the low MS group. The MS group also had lower 24-h diastolic BP over 3 years (P=.016) than the low MS group. Based on the amount of spousal contact during ABP, MS subjects spent much more time together after 3 years than at baseline (P=.008) and compared to the low MS group (P=.027). CONCLUSION: MS, a construct of both the quality and quantity of contact between spouses, was related to improved 3-year outcome in mild hypertension. Prospective clarification of the role of MS in mild hypertension is required.

Relationships between ambulatory white coat effect and left ventricular mass in arterial hypertension.

The aim of our study was to analyze, in a group of 296 essential hypertensives, the relationship between left ventricular mass (LVM) and ambulatory white coat effect (WCE); that is the difference between the elevation of the first measurements of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and the mean daytime pressure. The study population was separated into two groups according to the median of the WCE. The LVM was greater in the groups with higher systolic and diastolic ambulatory WCE. The significant association between ambulatory WCE and LVM was confirmed by the results of multiple regression analysis, suggesting that ambulatory WCE may not be an innocent phenomenon.

Pulse pressure responses to psychological tasks improve the prediction of left ventricular mass: 10 years of follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the role of casual blood pressure measurements and blood pressure responses to psychological tasks in the prediction of future left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and to determine the importance of different components of blood pressure, and the predictive value of an individual's personal characteristics and antihypertensive medication on future LVMI. METHODS: At baseline, blood pressure was recorded by casual measurements; during tests it was recorded by intra-arterial monitoring. The participants were healthy, untreated 35-45-year old men. Echocardiography data both at baseline and after 10 years of follow-up were available from 65 individuals, of whom 49 (75%) were not taking antihypertensive medication at follow-up. Those not taking antihypertensive medication were included in the prediction of LVMI (g/m2). RESULTS: Baseline LVMI correlated significantly with future LVMI only among the 49 unmedicated individuals (r = 0.52, P < 0.0001). The predictive value of baseline LVMI on future LVMI among them (adjusted coefficient of determination = 0.26) was not improved by the inclusion of casual blood pressure. In contrast, blood pressure responses to the psychological tasks improved the prediction of future LVMI by 4-13%. Pulse pressure was the blood pressure variable that entered the final prediction models; the correlations with future LVMI were best for pulse pressure response to habituation task (r = 0.43, P < 0.05) and to relaxation (r = 0.37, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the longest prospective follow-up to show that blood pressure responses to psychological tasks improve the prediction of LVMI compared with casual blood pressure measurements. The pulse pressure, which reflects the properties of the arterial wall, is the most significant blood pressure variable in predicting future LVMI.

Violence exposure, catecholamine excretion, and blood pressure nondipping status in African American male versus female adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Nondipping status (<10% decrease in blood pressure [BP] from awake to asleep) has been associated with end-organ disease (stroke and left ventricular hypertrophy) in adults. Nondipping status has also been observed in 30% of healthy African American adolescents, but little is known about the correlates of nondipping status in adolescents. This study examined the relationship between violence exposure, catecholamine excretion, and BP nondipping status in 56 healthy African American adolescents (27 boys, 29 girls; ages 11-18 years). METHODS: Participants completed the Survey of Exposure to Community Violence, wore an ambulatory BP monitor and provided one timed day and night urine collection for determination of epinephrine and norepinephrine excretion. RESULTS: Boys had higher daytime epinephrine (5.1 +/- 3.3 vs. 2.6 +/- 2.3 ng/min, p < .001) and norepinephrine excretion (29.2 +/- 25.1 vs. 16.5 +/- 14.9 ng/min, p < .05) and showed a greater prevalence of mean BP nondipping status than girls (37% vs. 10%, p < .03). Mean BP nondipping status was positively associated with victimization (r = 0.42, p < .0001). Regression analyses indicated a significant interaction between hearing about violence and sex for predicting daytime epinephrine (p < .02), with male nondippers showing a stronger positive association (partial correlation = 0.59, p < .05) than females (partial correlation = 0.03, p = NS). Logistic regressions also demonstrated a significant interaction between hearing about violence and sex for predicting mean BP dipping status, with male nondippers reporting the greatest exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Mean BP nondipping was associated with victimization in both boys and girls. Boys who reported higher levels of hearing about violence showed greater daytime epinephrine excretion and were more likely to be classified as nondippers.

Relationship of clinic, ambulatory, and laboratory stress blood pressure to left ventricular mass in overweight men and women with high blood pressure.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between left ventricular (LV) mass and blood pressure (BP) recorded in the following contexts: in the clinic, using standard auscultatory procedures, during a typical day using ambulatory BP monitoring, and in the laboratory environment during behavioral stress testing. METHODS: Ninety-seven men and women with clinic systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 130 to 180 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 85 to 110 mm Hg and mild to moderate obesity were included in the study. Laboratory stressors included the following tasks: Public Speaking; Anger Interview; Mirror Trace; and Cold Pressor. LV mass was measured using echocardiography and adjusted for body size by dividing by height(2.7) to yield LV mass index (LVMI). RESULTS: LVMI was positively correlated with clinic SBP (r = 0.24, p <.05), ambulatory SBP (r = 0.34, p <.01), and aggregated laboratory stress SBP (r = 0.28, p <.01). Of the individual stressors, only SBP responses to the Mirror Trace and Cold Pressor tasks were independently correlated with LVMI (r = 0.35 and 0.34, respectively, p values <.01). Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that laboratory stress SBP remained a significant predictor of LVMI, after controlling for BMI and clinic pressure. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that cardiovascular responses to behavioral stress are associated with individual differences in LVMI in men and women with high blood pressure who are overweight. Laboratory studies of behavioral stress may help promote our understanding of the pathophysiology of LVH.

Anticipatory blood pressure responses to exercise are associated with left ventricular mass in Finnish men: Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study.

BACKGROUND: Exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity to psychological demands may contribute to the development of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. We examined the cross-sectional association between anticipatory blood pressure (BP) responses to bicycle exercise and LV mass in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study, a population-based epidemiological sample. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 876 men from 4 age cohorts (ages 42, 48, 58, and 64 years), we collected echocardiographic assessments of LV mass along with measures of BP response taken before bicycle ergometry testing. Anticipatory BP responses were positively associated with LV mass, with significant associations only among younger (age <50 years) subjects with elevated resting pressures (3-way interactions for anticipatory BP x age x resting pressure for systolic and diastolic BP, all P:<0.05; for younger subjects with elevated systolic BP, P:<0. 01; and for younger subjects with elevated diastolic BP, P:<0.001). Among these subgroups, exaggerated anticipatory BP responses (top quartile) were associated with an incremental increase in LV mass of 10% or greater, corrected for body surface area. Results remained significant after adjusting for age, education, salt consumption, and resting BP, and the pattern of findings was maintained among men with no previous history of cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: The tendency to show exaggerated pressor responses to psychological demands may be a significant independent correlate of LV mass, especially among young men with high resting pressures. This is the first study to examine such associations in a middle-aged population sample.