Effect of treatment of isolated systolic hypertension on left ventricular mass.
BACKGROUND
Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is a common problem among elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), but the effect of treatment of ISH on LV mass is not known.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the ability of antihypertensive drug treatment to reduce LV mass in ISH.


METHODS
Echocardiographic Substudy of the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP).


METHODS
A total of 104 participants at the St Louis SHEP site who had interpretable baseline echocardiograms, 94 of whom had 3-year follow-up echocardiograms.


METHODS
The SHEP participants were randomized to placebo or active treatment with chlorthalidone (12.5-25 mg/d), with atenolol (25-50 mg/d) added if necessary to maintain goal blood pressure.


METHODS
Change in LV mass assessed by echocardiography.


RESULTS
Minimum follow-up was 3 years. In the active treatment group, 91% and 80% of subjects were receiving treatment with chlorthalidone alone by the end of years 1 and 3, respectively. The LV mass index was 93 g/m2 in the active treatment group and 100 g/m2 in the placebo group (P<.001). The LV mass index declined by 13% (95% confidence interval, - 3% to - 23%) in the active treatment group compared with a 6% increase (95% confidence interval, - 3% to + 16%) in the placebo group over 3 years (P=.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of ISH with a diuretic-based regimen reduces LV mass.
Ofili
E O
EO
Department of Internal Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga 30310, USA.
Cohen
J D
JD
St Vrain
J A
JA
Pearson
A
A
Martin
T J
TJ
Uy
N D
ND
Castello
R
R
Labovitz
A J
AJ
D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001262:Atenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002752:Chlorthalidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013599:Systole; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D001262:Atenolol; D002752:Chlorthalidone