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[Left ventricular hypertrophy in a general hypertensive population in Barcelona]
1Area Básica de Salud Gòtic. Unidad Docente de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria de Barcelona.
Insights
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is common in Spanish hypertensive patients, affecting 64%. Female sex, age, and high systolic blood pressure are key risk factors for this cardiac condition.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a significant cardiac risk factor.
- Limited epidemiological data exists for LVH in Spain's general hypertensive population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of LVH in a general hypertensive population in Spain.
- To identify independent risk factors associated with LVH in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A randomized sample of 267 hypertensive patients under 80 in Barcelona underwent Doppler-echocardiography.
- LVH was defined by left ventricular mass index thresholds for males (>134 g/m2) and females (>110 g/m2).
- Odds ratios were calculated to assess associations between LVH and various exposure factors.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of echocardiogram-diagnosed LVH was 64% (95% CI: 58.3-69.8%).
- Independent risk factors for LVH included female sex, increasing age, and elevated systolic blood pressure.
Conclusions:
- LVH is a prevalent cardiovascular risk factor among hypertensive individuals in Spain.
- Routine echocardiographic screening in primary care for LVH is not currently recommended pending cost-effectiveness analysis.
Background:
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a well known cardiac risk factor. There are no data available as to the epidemiology of this disease in the general hypertensive population in Spain.
Methods:
A randomized sample (n = 267) of a general hypertensive population under the age of 80 years was followed in a Basic Health Care Area located in the center of Barcelona, Spain. A Doppler-echocardiographic study of the patients was carried out. The patients were considered to have LVH when they demonstrated an index > 134 g/m2 of left ventricular mass in males and > 110 g/m2 in females. The odds ratio (OR) was estimated on presentation of LVH associated with exposure to different factors.
Results:
A prevalence of LVH diagnosed by echocardiogram was observed in 64% (confidence interval 95% from 58.3 to 69.8%). The independent risk factors associated with the presence of LVH were female sex, age and systolic blood pressure.
Conclusions:
Left ventricular hypertrophy is a frequent cardiovascular risk factor in the general hypertensive population in Spain. A systematic search by echocardiography cannot be recommended in primary health care until cost-effectiveness studies have been performed.