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[Arterial hypertension: clinical significance of U wave inversion in electrocardiogram]
G Caruso1, G M Trovato, G Todaro
1Clinica Medica, Ospedale Ferrarotto, Università di Catania.
Insights
Negative U waves on ECGs are linked to advanced hypertensive heart disease, especially in middle-aged patients with increased left ventricular mass or heart failure. This finding aids in identifying cardiac changes in hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Negative U waves are typically associated with conditions like ischemic heart disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, and chronic cor pulmonale.
- They can also occur due to electrolyte imbalances or drug toxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and significance of negative U waves in patients with longstanding arterial hypertension.
- To determine the association between negative U waves and structural heart changes in hypertensive individuals.
Main Methods:
- Electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography were used to assess 559 patients with chronic arterial hypertension.
- Analysis focused on correlating the presence of negative U waves with left ventricular mass and congestive heart failure.
Main Results:
- Negative U waves were significantly more frequent in hypertensive patients with increased left ventricular mass and/or congestive heart failure.
- This association was particularly notable in the middle-aged hypertension group.
Conclusions:
- Negative U waves appear to be an electrocardiographic marker associated with the anatomical progression of hypertensive heart disease.
- The presence of negative U waves may indicate left ventricular hypertrophy and/or congestive heart failure in hypertensive patients.
Abstract:
Negative U wave is usually observed in ischemic heart disease, left ventricular hypertrophy and in chronic cor pulmonale, sometimes in association with electrolytic imbalance or toxic effects of drugs. We assessed by ECG and echocardiography 559 patients with longstanding arterial hypertension. Negative U wave was significantly more frequent in patients with increased left ventricular mass and/or with congestive heart failure, particularly in the middle-age hypertension group. Negative U wave appears to be an ECG sign closely associated with the anatomical evolution toward hypertensive heart disease with hypertrophy and/or congestive heart failure.