PREVALENCE OF LEFT-VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH WELL CONTROLLED HYPERTENSION

1. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was measured by echocardiography in 154 patients, mostly males, aged 55 years or more, with hypertension who had been well controlled for at least 2 years. 2. Satisfactory studies with no other cardiac lesions were available for 103 patients; 52% had LVH and 48% had normal left ventricular dimensions. 3. In patients with well controlled hypertension there was a high prevalence of LVH despite adequate control for at least 2 years. Neither the level of control nor the drugs used appeared to predict the outcome. 4. Consideration needs to be given to earlier treatment, greater lowering of blood pressure, or different drugs to reduce this high prevalence of LVH. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved