Left ventricular hypertrophy and geometry in a population sample of elderly males

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that left ventricular geometric adaptationto hypertension is complex. The spectrum of geometric adaptationsin a general population and its relationship to systolic anddiastolic function has, however, not been investigated. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: This echocardiographic and Doppler study investigated the relationshipsbetween left ventricular geometric shape (normal, concentricremodelling, concentric hypertrophy and eccentric hypertrophy)and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in a populationsample of 584 males aged 70 in Uppsala, Sweden. The influencesof hypertension, coronary heart disease and diabetes mellituswere also evaluated. RESULTS: Sixteen percent of the healthy population (n=167) demonstratedthe presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (mainly eccentric).Subjects with hypertension (n=115) showed an increased leftventricular mass (eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy 31%,concentric left ventricular hypertrophy 15%), when comparedwith healthy subjects (P<0.001). Subjects with coronary heartdisease (n=32) without hypertension also showed an increasedleft ventricular mass (most often eccentric) (P<0.05). UsingDoppler determinations of cardiac index, no differences werefound in cardiac index between the geometric groups. Raisedtotal peripheral resistance, increased blood pressure and enlargedleft atrium were found in both concentric and eccentric leftventricular hypertrophy (P<0.01–0.05). Disturbed diastolicfunction was seen with a prolongation of the isovolumic relaxationtime in eccentric (P<0.01) and increased atrial-dependentleft ventricular filling in concentric left ventricular hypertrophy(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in left ventricular geometry were common in thispopulation-based study of elderly males, both in healthy subjectsand in subjects with hypertension or coronary heart disease.Raised total peripheral resistance and left ventricular diastolicdysfunction were common findings in both concentric and eccentricleft ventricular hypertrophy.