Prevalence and prognostic implications of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy in heart failure:

N M Hawkins1, D Wang, J J V McMurray

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Stobhill Hospital, Balornock Road, Springburn, Glasgow G21 3UW, UK. nathawkins@hotmail.com

Insights

Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG LVH) is common in heart failure patients and independently predicts worse outcomes. This finding holds true across various left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) and treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Clinical Medicine
  • Cardiovascular Research

Background:

  • Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG LVH) is a significant predictor of cardiovascular events in hypertension.
  • Understanding its role in heart failure is crucial for risk stratification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prevalence and prognostic impact of ECG LVH in a diverse heart failure patient population.
  • To evaluate ECG LVH in patients with preserved and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 7599 patients from the Candesartan in Heart failure: Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity (CHARM) program.
  • Utilized Cox regression models to determine the relative risk (RR) associated with ECG LVH, adjusting for 31 covariates.

Main Results:

  • ECG LVH prevalence was consistent across CHARM trials (14.7%–17.1%), irrespective of hypertension history.
  • ECG LVH independently predicted poorer outcomes, with RR for primary composite outcome at 1.27 (p=0.018).
  • Increased risks observed for cardiovascular death (RR 1.50) and major cardiovascular events (RR 1.35).

Conclusions:

  • ECG LVH is prevalent in symptomatic heart failure patients regardless of LVEF.
  • ECG LVH serves as an independent predictor of adverse clinical outcomes in heart failure.
  • Candesartan demonstrated comparable efficacy in patients with and without ECG LVH.
Abstract

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