Plasma aldosterone and left ventricular diastolic function in treatment-naïve patients with hypertension:...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Hypertension Research

Background:

• Aldosterone exerts hypertrophic and profibrotic effects on the heart.
• The link between plasma aldosterone and left ventricular diastolic function in hypertension remains incompletely understood.
• Comorbidities can influence left ventricular diastolic filling, necessitating study in uncomplicated hypertensive populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between plasma aldosterone levels and left ventricular diastolic function.
• To examine this relationship in treatment-naïve patients with primary hypertension without confounding comorbidities.
• To assess diastolic function using both conventional echocardiography and tissue-Doppler imaging.

Main Methods:

• Study included 115 treatment-naïve hypertensive patients and 100 matched normotensive controls on a standard diet.
• Measurements included plasma aldosterone and active renin levels.
• Left ventricular diastolic function was assessed using conventional echocardiography and tissue-Doppler imaging; left ventricular mass index was calculated.

Main Results:

• Left ventricular hypertrophy was present in 21% of hypertensive patients.
• Diastolic dysfunction was identified in 20% by conventional echocardiography and 58% by tissue-Doppler imaging.
• Patients with diastolic dysfunction exhibited higher age, male sex, BMI, blood pressure, alcohol intake, LV mass index, and relative wall thickness, but lower plasma aldosterone levels.

Conclusions:

• Plasma aldosterone levels are associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive individuals.
• Aldosterone does not demonstrate an independent relationship with left ventricular diastolic properties in this cohort.
• Tissue-Doppler imaging revealed a higher prevalence of diastolic dysfunction compared to conventional echocardiography.