title: Prevalence of asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction in hypertensive Nigerians: echocardiographic study of 832 subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We sought to determine the prevalence of echocardiographically determined left ventricular systolic dysfunction in asymptomatic hypertensive subjects seen in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Echocardiography was performed in 832 consecutive hypertensive subjects referred for cardiac evaluation over a three-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were obtained in 832 subjects (50.1% women) aged 56.0 ± 12.7 years (men 56.9 ± 13.3 years, women 55.0 ± 12.0 years, range 15-88). The prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) was 18.1% in the study population (mild LVSD = 9.6%, moderate LVSD = 3.7% and severe LVSD = 4.8%). In a multivariate analysis, male gender, body mass index and LV mass were the predictors of LVSD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant numbers of hypertensive subjects in this study had varying degrees of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Early introduction of disease-modifying drugs in these patients, such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers may retard or prevent the progression to overt heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Ogah
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Akinyemi
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Adegbite
authors.forename: O I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Udofia
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Udoh
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Adesina
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Ojo
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alabi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Majekodunmi
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Osinfade
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Ogundipe
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Falase
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology