Right ventricular dysfunction in a hypertensive population stratified by patterns of left ventricular geometry

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Hypertension Research
• Echocardiography

Background:

• Hypertension frequently leads to cardiac structural and functional changes.
• Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is increasingly recognized in hypertensive patients.
• Understanding RV systolic and diastolic dysfunction (RVSD and RVDD) prevalence and determinants is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence, determinants, and correlates of RVSD and RVDD in hypertensive individuals.
• To stratify these findings based on left ventricular (LV) geometric patterns.
• To identify independent predictors of RV dysfunction in this population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional echocardiographic study at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
• Recruitment of hypertensive subjects meeting inclusion criteria.
• Defined RVSD using TAPSE or TDI S(m); RVDD using TDI E(m):A(m) ratio.
• Comparison between normal LV geometry and LV hypertrophy/remodeling patterns.

Main Results:

• Overall prevalence: RVDD (61.72%) nearly double RVSD (32.03%).
• RVSD highest in eccentric hypertrophy (EH) (52.63%), lowest in concentric hypertrophy (CH) (20.69%).
• RVDD prevalence was high across all LV geometry groups.
• Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) independently predicted RVSD; age predicted RVDD.

Conclusions:

• Two-thirds of hypertensive patients exhibited RVDD, and one-third had RVSD.
• RVSD was most prevalent in EH, while RVDD was common in all groups.
• LVEF and age were the sole independent determinants of RVSD and RVDD, respectively.