title: Left ventricular geometric patterns in newly presenting Nigerian hypertensives: an echocardiographic study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is a global problem and it is prevalent in Nigeria. Left ventricular hypertrophy is a major complication of hypertension with risk of sudden death and arrhythmias among others. Abnormal left ventricular geometric patterns also increase the burden of morbidity and mortality. It is therefore important to know the different left ventricular geometric patterns in Nigerian hypertensives because of their prognostic significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred (100) newly presenting hypertensives (53 males and 47 females) and 100 controls (53 males and 47 females) were recruited for the study. All were subjected to clinical evaluation and full echocardiographic examination was performed according to the ASE recommendation. The relative wall thickness and the presence or absence of echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy were used to determine the various geometric patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the hypertensive subjects was 56.06 (+/- 7.68) years while that of the control subjects was 56.10 (+/- 7.68) years. There was no significant difference in the mean ages of the two groups. In the hypertensive subjects 28% had normal geometry, 26% had concentric remodeling, 28% had concentric hypertrophy and 18% had eccentric hypertrophy. In the control group, 86% had normal geometry, 11% had concentric remodeling, 3% had eccentric hypertrophy and none had concentric hypertrophy. There was statistical significance when the geometric patterns of the hypertensive and controls were compared (chi2 = 74.30, p value < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed that only 28% of the hypertensive subjects had normal LV geometric pattern while 86% of the normal subjects had normal geometry. There is need for longitudinal studies in order to prognosticate the various geometric patterns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. ajeyemi@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Akinyemi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aje
authors.forename: Adewole A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adebiyi
authors.forename: Olulola O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Oladapo
authors.forename: Adekola
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dada
authors.forename: Okechukwu S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Ogah
authors.forename: Dike B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Ojji
authors.forename: Ayodele O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Falase
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011379:Prognosis; D014463:Ultrasonography