Is there a latent left ventricular dysfunction in hypertensive patients with preserved ejection fraction?

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Echocardiography
• Hypertension Research

Background:

• Early detection of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is vital for reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
• Hypertension is a major risk factor for developing LV dysfunction.
• Preserved ejection fraction (EF) can mask underlying systolic impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate longitudinal contractility in patients with essential hypertension and preserved LV ejection fraction (EF).
• To detect latent impairment of LV systolic function using advanced echocardiographic techniques.

Main Methods:

• Prospective case-control study involving 121 hypertensive patients and 39 healthy controls.
• Utilized conventional echocardiography and 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) for imaging.
• Assessed global longitudinal strain (GLS) and diastolic function parameters.

Main Results:

• Hypertensive patients showed increased septal thickness, LV mass, and left atrium volume compared to controls.
• Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) was significantly reduced in hypertensive patients (-17.69 ± 4.06%) versus controls (-22.70 ± 5.02%).
• A decrease in GLS was more pronounced in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy.

Conclusions:

• Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) is a sensitive biomarker for subclinical myocardial dysfunction in hypertensive patients.
• Identifying patients with impaired GLS can facilitate earlier intervention strategies.
• This approach may help mitigate the risk of heart failure in hypertensive individuals.