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Left ventricular hypertrophy associated with hypertension and its relevance as a risk factor for complications
R B Devereux1, G de Simone, A Ganau
1Department of Medicine, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York 10021.
Insights
Left ventricular (LV) mass, measured by echocardiography, reflects hypertension pathophysiology. Higher LV mass predicts cardiovascular events and death more strongly than blood pressure, suggesting its importance in hypertension management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Left ventricular (LV) mass is a key indicator in hypertension.
- It reflects multiple pathophysiological factors including obesity, sodium intake, and genetics.
- LV mass is a significant predictor of cardiovascular outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the role of LV mass in hypertension.
- To highlight its predictive value for cardiovascular events.
- To explore its relationship with arterial disease and treatment response.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiography for LV mass measurement.
- Analysis of prospective studies on hypertension risk factors.
- Investigation of correlations between LV mass, arterial disease, and treatment outcomes.
Main Results:
- LV mass integrates various hypertension contributors.
- LV mass is a stronger predictor of mortality and morbidity than blood pressure.
- Changes in LV mass during treatment correlate with subsequent events.
Conclusions:
- LV mass is a crucial prognostic marker in hypertension.
- Its predictive power is linked to arterial disease and treatment effects.
- Further research is needed to optimize hypertension treatment strategies using LV mass stratification.
Abstract:
Recent research indicates that the level of left ventricular (LV) mass, commonly measured by echocardiography, reflects the combined effects of a variety of factors involved in the pathophysiology of hypertension, including obesity, blood pressure responses to everyday activity, high sodium intake and blood viscosity, the volume work load of the heart, and genetic factors predisposing to hypertension. Prospective studies indicate that LV mass is a stronger predictor of subsequent morbid events and death than blood pressure or other conventional risk factors except age. Preliminary findings of close relations between LV mass and arterial disease and between the change in LV mass during antihypertensive treatment and subsequent events contribute to explaining the strong predictive value of LV mass. Further research is needed to clarify the biologic basis of these observations and to determine whether stratification of hypertensive patients based on their level of LV mass can improve the treatment of hypertension.