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A model for comparison of left ventricular mass and systolic blood pressure as risk factors for stroke
Insights
Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy predicts stroke risk. Increased left ventricular mass, measured continuously, is a powerful stroke predictor, potentially exceeding systolic blood pressure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) predicts stroke risk independently of blood pressure.
- Electrocardiography (ECG) is an insensitive method for detecting LVH.
- Continuous measurement of left ventricular mass (LVM) is becoming available via echocardiography.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the risk of stroke associated with increased left ventricular mass.
- To assess the predictive power of LVM for stroke risk using longitudinal data.
Main Methods:
- Utilized published longitudinal data from the Framingham Heart Study.
- Developed a model to estimate stroke risk based on varying levels of LVM.
Main Results:
- Left ventricular mass is a significant predictor of stroke.
- The model predicts LVM is at least as powerful as systolic blood pressure in predicting stroke risk.
Conclusions:
- Increased left ventricular mass is a critical risk factor for stroke.
- Continuous measurement of LVM, particularly with echocardiography, offers a more sensitive approach to risk assessment than traditional ECG.
Abstract:
Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (increased left ventricular mass) is a known risk predictor of stroke independent of blood pressure level. However, electrocardiography is an insensitive index of such hypertrophy. To assess the potential risk associated with increased left ventricular mass via continuous measurement (as is becoming available with echocardiography), published longitudinal data from the Framingham study were used to estimate risk of stroke associated with various levels of increased left ventricular mass. This model predicts that left ventricular mass is at least as powerful as, if not more powerful than, systolic blood pressure levels for predicting risk of stroke.