Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Mortality Risk in Male Veteran Patients at High Cardiovascular Risk

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Veterans Health
• Morbidity and Mortality Studies

Background:

• Cardiovascular risk and mortality data are abundant in the general population, yet scarce for veteran patients.
• Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a known cardiovascular risk factor, but its impact on mortality in veterans requires specific investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and all-cause mortality in a high-risk male veteran population.
• To quantify the incremental mortality risk associated with varying degrees of LVH in veterans.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of echocardiograms from 10,406 male veterans (mean age 68.3 years).
• Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) calculated using LVM/BSA and LVM/m^2.7 methods to define and grade LVH (mild, moderate, severe, extreme).
• Cox proportional hazard analyses adjusted for comorbidities to assess mortality risk over a mean follow-up of 5.9 years.

Main Results:

• LVH was present in 37.9% of the veteran cohort.
• All grades of LVH were associated with increased all-cause mortality risk compared to normal LVMI.
• Extreme LVH demonstrated the highest hazard ratio (1.95), indicating a nearly doubled mortality risk.
• Mortality risk increased by 6.2% per 10-unit change in LVMI (LVM/BSA) and 9.4% (LVM/m^2.7).

Conclusions:

• Increased left ventricular mass index (LVMI) is a significant independent predictor of all-cause mortality in male veterans.
• The risk of mortality escalates with the severity of LVH, particularly in cases of extreme LVH.
• Findings underscore the importance of assessing LVH in veterans for risk stratification and management.