Left ventricular mass of persistent masked hypertension in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents: a 4-year follow-up study.

Objective: In our previous study, the prevalence of childhood masked hypertension was 11%. This study aims to assess the left ventricular mass index of persistent masked hypertension and determine the factors of elevated left ventricular mass index in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents from a community cohort.

Design: Community prospective cohort study, follow-up of a case-control study in community.

Left ventricular long-axis performance during exercise is an important prognosticator in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Although many prognostic variables have been reported, the risk stratification of patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) has long been controversial due to considerable discordance. Ergometry stress echocardiography may provide a more clinical relevant evaluation in HFPEF. We aimed at evaluating the prognostic value of echocardiographic parameters during exercise in HFPEF patients.

Changes of ventricular and peripheral performance in patients with heart failure and normal ejection fraction: insights from ergometry stress echocardiography.

Aims: We assessed the left ventricular (LV) and peripheral performance at rest and during exercise in healthy and heart failure subjects with normal ejection fraction (HFNEF) or with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF).

Methods: All subjects received echocardiography at rest and with bicycle Ergometer exercise. The exercise images for two-dimensional speckle tracking were acquired with submaximal heart rate of 90-100 beats/min, while images for M-mode and tissue Doppler imaging were stored with attainment of >85% of predicted heart rate.

Diverse patterns of longitudinal and radial dyssynchrony in patients with advanced systolic heart failure.

Background: Little is known about the impact of QRS duration and aetiology of heart failure on the pattern of left ventricular long- and short-axis dyssynchrony.

Objective: To investigate the impact of QRS duration and aetiology of heart failure on the pattern of left ventricular long- and short-axis dyssynchrony using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking imaging.

Methods: 448 patients with heart failure (aged 65 ± 12 years, 75% men) with ejection fraction ≤ 35% from two cardiac centres were examined for the occurrence of longitudinal dyssynchrony by TDI, and for radial dyssynchrony by 2D speckle tracking imaging.

Effect of household passive smoking exposure on the risk of ischaemic heart disease in never-smoke female patients in Hong Kong.

Objective: To investigate the relation between household passive smoking exposure and risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) among never-smoke female patients by a retrospective case-control analysis.

Methods: This study recruited 314 patients with IHD who had never smoked and 319 controls who were admitted for other reasons in the same hospital during the same period. Subjects were interviewed about their exposure to household passive smoking.