The assessment of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension.
The presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertension, as detected by the electrocardiogram or echocardiography, is associated with an increased risk of mortality and morbidity several times above and beyond the risk of hypertension alone. The LIFE (Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension) study confirmed that pharmacological agents, which reduce LVH, confer further reduction in morbidity and mortality. This makes the identification of patients with LVH all the more important. In this article we describe the various methods available to diagnose the presence of LVH in patients with hypertension, and consider their strengths and their place in clinical practice and in research.
Alfakih
Khaled
K
Cardiology Department, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK. khaled.alfakih@nhs.net
Reid
Scott
S
Hall
Alistair
A
Sivananthan
Mohan U
MU
D001830:Body Surface Area; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods