Left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension--general and local trends in diagnosis and therapy.
LVH is a frequent echocardiographic finding in the general population but it should be regarded as an ominous predictor of future cardiovascular events rather than an innocent compensatory phenomenon. Echocardiography is the most sensitive and specific method for its detection but the ECG should not be regarded as superfluous since additional prognostic information and information about coexisting myocardial damage is present. The decreasing prevalence of LVH suggests that LVH can be prevented by control of hypertension and prevention of weight gain. Once LVH is present then antihypertensive drugs, weight reduction or salt restriction may promote its reversal, with early studies demonstrating associated improvement in mortality and morbidity.
Clarkson
P
P
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee.
Prasad
N
N
MacDonald
T M
TM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012606:Scotland