title: Overall risk of left ventricular hypertrophy secondary to systemic hypertension.
abstract: Stratification of risk for cardiovascular events is a fundamental aspect of the assessment of hypertensive patients. The assessment of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is an important component of such stratification. The low prevalence of LV hypertrophy on the electrocardiogram (less than 3%) in patients with borderline or mild hypertension limits the utility of the electrocardiogram for stratification of risk in such patients. The high sensitivity (roughly 10-fold greater) and specificity of echocardiography for detection of LV hypertrophy and assessment of the severity and the various forms of such hypertrophy have prompted critical evaluation of the risk associated with such LV hypertrophy. Initial information suggesting considerable risk associated with echocardiographically detected increases in LV mass suggests significant clinical and public health importance of this tool. Further detailed cost-benefit analyses are needed to aid in assessing the role of echocardiography in the evaluation of patients with borderline and mild hypertension.
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion; D044469:Racial Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors