Prospective study of the changes in left ventricular mass and geometry patterns in hypertensive patients During 5 years of follow-up.

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), as well as the geometry pattern of the left ventricle, is believed to be an independent risk factor for hypertension. The present study investigated the changes in left ventricular mass, diastolic function and geometry in hypertensive patients in a prospective 5-year follow-up in conjunction with an evaluation of the regularity and effectiveness of treatment.

Methods And Results: One hundred hypertensive patients older than 18 years were examined according to the study protocol, which included registration of weight, height, vital signs, and echocardiography.