title: [Influence of educational level on myocardial hypertrophy of hemodialysis patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic renal disease is associated with a high cardiovascular risk. Data from the general population associate cardiovascular diseases with low educational level, but no study has evaluated this association in patients on hemodialysis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at evaluating the association between educational level, hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients on chronic hemodialysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A standard socioeconomic questionnaire was applied to 79 hemodialysis patients at the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, state of São Paulo. Clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic data were obtained from medical records. The patients were divided into two groups according to the median educational level, as follows: G1, patients with three or less years of schooling; G2, patients with more than three years of schooling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood pressure, interdialytic weight gain, and variables statistically different in the two groups (p < 0.2) underwent multiple analysis. Independent associations were stated with p < 0.05 in multiple analysis. The mean age of patients was 57 ± 12.8 years, 46 were males (57%), and 53 white (67%). The variables selected for multiple analysis were: age (p = 0.004); educational level (p < 0.0001); body mass index (p = 0.124); left ventricular diameter (p = 0.048); and left ventricular mass index (p = 0.006). Antihypertensive drugs were similar in both groups. Systolic blood pressure (p = 0.006) and years of schooling (p = 0.047) had a significant and independent correlation with left ventricular mass index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In hemodialysis patients, left ventricular mass associated not only with blood pressure but also with educational level.
authors: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP. rmartin@fmb.unesp.br
authors: Rosana Dos Santos E Silva
authors: Rdos S
authors: Martin
authors: Roberto Jorge da Silva
authors: RJ
authors: Franco
authors: Beatriz Bojikian
authors: BB
authors: Matsubara
authors: Silméia Garcia
authors: SG
authors: Zanati
authors: Pasqual
authors: P
authors: Barretti
authors: Luis Cuadrado
authors: LC
authors: Martin
authors: André Luis
authors: AL
authors: Balbi
authors: Aline Araújo
authors: AA
authors: Antunes
authors: Antônio Sérgio
authors: AS
authors: Martins
mesh_terms: D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis