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Should we perform an echocardiogram in hypertensive patients classified as having low and medium risk?

Carmen Suárez1, José Villar, Nieves Martel

  • 1Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa Madrid, Diego de León 62, 28006 Madrid, Spain. csuarezf@medynet.com

International Journal of Cardiology
|December 3, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Left ventricular hypertrophy is common in untreated hypertensive patients, even those considered low risk. Echocardiography is crucial for accurate risk stratification and timely treatment initiation in hypertension management.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Hypertension Research
  • Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

  • Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a key indicator of cardiovascular risk.
  • Echocardiography is not routinely used, and electrocardiography (ECG) often underestimates LVH prevalence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of echocardiographic LVH in untreated hypertensive patients categorized as low and medium risk.
  • To assess the potential for reclassification to high-risk status based on LVH detection.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional, multicenter study involving 197 untreated hypertensive patients.
  • Echocardiography was used to assess left ventricular mass index, applying Devereux criteria.
  • Logistic regression identified factors associated with LVH.

Main Results:

  • The overall prevalence of LVH was 23.9%, with higher rates in medium-risk (29.5%) versus low-risk (20.7%) groups.
  • Significant predictors of LVH included duration of hypertension, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and family history of cardiovascular disease.
  • LVH was prevalent even in low-risk individuals, suggesting underestimation by standard risk stratification.

Conclusions:

  • Echocardiography is vital for identifying LVH in both low and medium-risk untreated hypertensive patients.
  • Early detection of LVH via echocardiography can prevent delays in initiating necessary hypertension treatment.
Abstract

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