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Updated: Feb 20, 2026
Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Relationship Between 24-Hour Ambulatory Central Systolic Blood Pressure and Left Ventricular Mass: A Prospective
Thomas Weber1, Siegfried Wassertheurer2, Arno Schmidt-Trucksäss2
1From the Cardiology Department, Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen, Austria (T.W.); Center for Health & Bioresources, Department of Health and Environment, Austrian Institute of Technology, Vienna (S.W., B.H.); Division Sport and Exercise Medicine, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland (A.S.-T.); Department of Medicina Interna, Hospital de Sagunto, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain (E.R., J.M.P.); Cardiology Department, Medical University Graz, Austria (C.A., R.Z.); 1st Department of Cardiology, Interventional Electrocardiology and Hypertension, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland (P.J., D.C.); Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Italy (M.L.M., A.P., M.S.); Cardiology IV, 'A. De Gasperis' Department, ASTT Ospedale Niguarda Ca' Granda, School of Medicine and Surgery, Milano-Bicocca University, Italy (C.G., A.M.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bethesda Spital, Basel, Switzerland (C.M.); Division of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (I.W., C.M.); and Cardiology Department, Kepler University Clinic, Linz, Austria (J.K.). thomas.weber3@liwest.at.
Insights
Central systolic blood pressure more accurately reflects left ventricular mass and hypertrophy compared to brachial measurements. This finding highlights the importance of central pressure monitoring for cardiovascular health assessment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
- Echocardiography
Background:
- Left ventricular mass (LVM) is a key indicator of cardiovascular risk.
- Accurate blood pressure measurement is crucial for assessing cardiovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between left ventricular mass and different blood pressure measurements.
- To compare the predictive value of brachial and central systolic blood pressure for left ventricular hypertrophy.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiography was used to determine left ventricular mass in 289 participants.
- Brachial and central systolic blood pressure were measured using office and ambulatory techniques.
- Correlation and area under the curve analyses were performed.
Main Results:
- Central ambulatory systolic pressure showed a stronger correlation with left ventricular mass (0.47) than brachial office (0.29) or brachial ambulatory (0.41) pressure.
- Central ambulatory systolic pressure had a higher area under the curve for predicting left ventricular hypertrophy (0.666).
- These associations were consistent across demographics and particularly pronounced in younger individuals.
Conclusions:
- Central ambulatory systolic pressure is a more sensitive marker for left ventricular mass and hypertrophy than brachial measurements.
- Utilizing central blood pressure monitoring may improve cardiovascular risk stratification.
- Oscillometric measurement of central systolic pressure offers a valuable clinical tool.
Abstract:
We investigated the relationship between left ventricular mass and brachial office as well as brachial and central ambulatory systolic blood pressure in 7 European centers. Central systolic pressure was measured with a validated oscillometric device, using a transfer function, and mean/diastolic pressure calibration. M-mode images were obtained by echocardiography, and left ventricular mass was determined by one single reader blinded to blood pressure. We studied 289 participants (137 women) free from antihypertensive drugs (mean age: 50.8 years). Mean office blood pressure was 145/88 mm Hg and mean brachial and central ambulatory systolic pressures were 127 and 128 mm Hg, respectively. Mean left ventricular mass was 93.3 kg/m2, and 25.6% had left ventricular hypertrophy. The correlation coefficient between left ventricular mass and brachial office, brachial ambulatory, and central ambulatory systolic pressure was 0.29, 0.41, and 0.47, respectively (P=0.003 for comparison between brachial office and central ambulatory systolic pressure and 0.32 for comparison between brachial and central ambulatory systolic pressure). The results were consistent for men and women, and young and old participants. The areas under the curve for prediction of left ventricular hypertrophy were 0.618, 0.635, and 0.666 for brachial office, brachial, and central ambulatory systolic pressure, respectively (P=0.03 for comparison between brachial and central ambulatory systolic pressure). In younger participants, central ambulatory systolic pressure was superior to both other measurements. Central ambulatory systolic pressure, measured with an oscillometric cuff, shows a strong trend toward a closer association with left ventricular mass and hypertrophy than brachial office/ambulatory systolic pressure.
Clinical Trial Registration:
URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01278732.
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