Left ventricular geometry and diastolic function in the hypertensive heart: Impact of age. (February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Negri, Francesca; Sala, Carla; Re, Annalisa; Mancia, Giuseppe; Cuspidi, Cesare
• Is Part Of: Blood pressure. Volume 22:Number 1(2013)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2013-02
• Subjects: Blood pressure -- Periodicals; Hypertension -- Periodicals; Hypertension -- Periodicals; Blood Pressure -- Periodicals; 612.14
• DOI: 10.3109/08037051.2012.707307
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0803-7051

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Background and aim.</italic> The impact of aging on the relationship between left ventricular (LV) mass/geometry and diastolic function as assessed by updated echocardiographic methods, such as tissue Doppler, is poorly defined. We investigated this issue in a cohort of hypertensive patients. <italic>Methods.</italic> A total of 660 hypertensives (mean age 65 ± 13 years, 48% men) with preserved LV systolic function underwent a comprehensive echo-Doppler examination for routine clinical indications. For the present analysis, the subjects have been divided in two age groups (<65 or ≥65 years). <italic>Results.</italic> Overall, 61% of subjects fulfilled the criteria for LVH, 18% for left atrial (LA) enlargement and 11% for altered LV filling index. Concentric LV geometry was 1.4-fold higher in older hypertensives than in younger counterparts; also the prevalence of LA enlargement and altered LV filling was 2.0- and 1.9-fold higher in the former group, respectively. In older hypertensives, at variance from younger ones, neither LV mass nor relative wall thickness (RWT), a continuous index of LV geometry, were independently correlated to conventional as well as tissue Doppler LV diastolic indexes. <italic>Conclusions.</italic> Our findings suggest the relationship between cardiac hypertrophy and diastolic function in hypertensive subjects is affected by aging-associated factors unrelated to the amount of LV mass as assessed by standard echocardiography.</p> </abstract>