[Left ventricular hypertrophy in the Spanish hypertensive population. The ERIC-HTA study].
OBJECTIVE
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is the earliest manifestation of cardiac damage in hypertension. Its appearance is associated with a poor cardiovascular prognosis. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of electrocardiographic LVH and to assess the epidemiological characteristics of hypertensive patients receiving primary care.


METHODS
A cross-sectional multicenter study of hypertensive patients aged 55 years or more was carried out in a primary care setting. Blood pressure was measured using the standard method. Cardiovascular history was determined from medical records and LVH was assessed electrocardiographically using Cornell's criteria.


RESULTS
In total, 15 798 patients (mean age 68.0 years, 55.3% women, and 30.4% with diabetes mellitus) were evaluated. Of these, 3207 (20.3%) had electrocardiographic signs of LVH. The prevalence was higher in males, diabetics, smokers, and patients with high blood pressure or renal or cardiovascular disease. Compared to patients without LVH, those with the condition were older, were more often male, and were more likely to have diabetes or renal or cardiovascular disease. Multivariate analysis showed that LVH was independently associated with advanced age, male gender, diabetes, smoking, poor blood pressure control, and the presence of cardiovascular or renal disease. Blood pressure control was poorer in patients with LVH than in those without it.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of electrocardiographic LVH is high, with affected patients being more likely to have diabetes or renal or cardiovascular disease. Moreover, blood pressure control is poor in these patients, and more aggressive pharmacological management is needed.
Centro de Salud Serrería 2, Valencia, España.
José V
JV
Lozano
Josep
J
Redón
Luis
L
Cea-Calvo
Cristina
C
Fernández-Pérez
Jorge
J
Navarro
Alvaro
A
Bonet
Jorge
J
González-Esteban
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology