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[Arterial hypertension in black Africans. Clinical and echographic study in 50 patients]
1Hôpital Max Fourestier, Nanterre.
Insights
Hypertension in young Black Africans frequently alters left ventricular geometry, with concentric remodeling and hypertrophy being common. This study highlights the need for early cardiovascular monitoring in this demographic.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
- Cardiovascular Imaging
Background:
- Hypertension significantly impacts cardiovascular health, particularly left ventricular geometry.
- Understanding ethnic variations in hypertensive heart disease is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate modifications in left ventricular geometry in Black Africans with hypertension.
- To assess the prevalence of different types of left ventricular hypertrophy and remodeling.
Main Methods:
- Collected clinical, electrocardiographic (ECG), and echocardiographic data from 50 Black Africans with hypertension.
- Measured blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), left ventricular mass (LVM), and relative wall thickness.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of left ventricular geometry modifications observed.
- Concentric remodeling (8/36) and concentric left ventricle hypertrophy (10/36) were predominant.
- Age showed negative correlations with left ventricle diameters, while body surface correlated positively with wall thickness.
Conclusions:
- Young hypertensive Black Africans exhibit a high prevalence of altered left ventricular geometry.
- Concentric remodeling and hypertrophy are common findings in this population.
- Findings underscore the importance of early echocardiographic assessment in hypertensive individuals of African descent.
Objectives:
Clinical and electrocardiographic and echocardiographic data were collected in 50 black Africans with hypertension to study modifications in left ventricular geometry.
Methods:
Thirty men and 20 women with hypertension (mean age 40.9 +/- 10.2 years) who had recently immigrated from Africa were included in the study. Parameters recorded were: systolic and diastolic pressures, body mass index (BMI = weight/height2); ECG; echocardiography (36 patients): end diastolic septal and posterior wall thickness, left ventricle diameter, left ventricle mass (LVM) and relative wall thickness.
Results:
Systolic and diastolic pressures and BMI were 169 +/- 24 mmHg, 105 +/- 14 mmHg and 26.7 +/- 3.9 kg/m2). LVM was 129 +/- 41 g/m2 (Normal < 134 g/m2) in men and 113 +/- 35 g/m2 (Normal = 110 g/m2) in women. Concentric remodeling was found in 8 patients (LVM = normal, relative wall thickness > or = 0.45), concentric left ventricle hypertrophy in 10 (LVM > normal, relative wall thickness > or = 0.45), excentric left ventricular hypertrophy in 6 (LVM > normal, relative wall thickness < 0.45), asymmetric septal hypertrophy in 4 and normal echocardiogram in 8. There was a negative correlation between age and end diastolic left ventricle diameter (r = -0.34, p < 0.05) and age and end systolic ventricle diameter (r = -0.74, p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between body surface and septal thickness (r = 0.34, p < 0.05), posterior wall thickness (r = 0.56, relative wall p < 0.001), and relative wall thickness (r = 0.45, p = 0.05).
Conclusion:
This population of young subjects with hypertension showed a high prevalence of modifications in left ventricular geometry with predominant concentric modeling with (8/36) and without (10/36) left ventricle hypertrophy.