A diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy on ECG is associated with a high cardiovascular risk: findings from a 40- to 69-year-old cohort in general practice.
OBJECTIVE
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent cardiovascular (CV) risk factor in both sexes. We studied if a diagnosis of LVH on electrocardiogram (ECG) was associated with a 'high CV risk condition' among 40- to 69-year-old individuals cared for by GPs.


METHODS
We studied 4250 individuals, 5.4% of whom had LVH. Cross-sectional frequencies, and age- and gender-adjusted statistical differences have been calculated.


RESULTS
All the study variables were significantly worse for 'LVH' than 'non-LVH' individuals (except smoking). The 'LVH' had both a mean '5-year CV risk' significantly greater than 'non-LVH' individuals (27.0% versus 8.6%), and a significantly higher prevalence of a '5-year CV risk >15%' (89% versus 15%).


CONCLUSIONS
A diagnosis of LVH on ECG among the adult individuals of an opportunistic cohort from general practice was associated with a 6-fold greater prevalence of a 'high CV risk condition'.
Ciardullo
A V
AV
Local Health Plan, Azienda USL, Italy. a.ciardullo@ausl.mo.it
Azzolini
L
L
Bevini
M
M
Cadioli
T
T
Daghio
M M
MM
Guidetti
P
P
Lorenzetti
M
M
Malavasi
P
P
Morellini
A
A
Carapezzi
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D002784:Cholesterol