Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is supposed to be a useful marker of cardiovascular (CV) complications during the course of hypertension (HT). To evaluate it, authors compared the clinical findings in hypertensive patients (pts) with and without LVH defined by echocardiography (echo). Hospital records of hypertensives treated in the 1st Medical Department during the year 1995 were analysed. LVH was defined by echo (Penn convention) as left ventricular mass index (LVMI) > 125 g/m2 in men and > 115 g/m2 in women. Presence of LVH was found in 72 pts (mean age 66 y), absence of LVH in 38 pts (mean age 56 y). There were statistically significant more CV complications in LVH-positive pts (incidence of myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, heart failure, ischemia (ECG), mitral regurgitation) as in LVH-negative. Tendency for other complications in LVH-positive pts (incidence of renal failure, stroke, LV diastolic dysfunction and aortic regurgitation) was also present. LVH-positive pts were about ten years older than the LVH-negative. In other risk factors (LVH and age not included) the both groups of pts were matched. LVH in pts with HT brings usually a complicated course of the disease. Age is an important contributing factor. Authors recommend to look after LVH presence in hypertensives as it carries much more complicated course of the disease.

Keywords: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Echocardiography; Female; Humans; Hypertension /complications/; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular /diagnostic imaging/; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors