[Hypertension and heart disease].

Hypertension commonly leads to heart disease, in particular left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure and coronary artery disease. Left ventricular hypertrophy and coronary artery disease are both often subclinical diseases in hypertensives. Symptomatic coronary artery disease in hypertension may be due to atherosclerosis in epicardial arteries, microvascular dysfunction, reduced fibrinolytic capacity, or left ventricular hypertrophy; the latter is present in 20-50% of patients with mild to moderate and in up to 90% of patients with severe hypertension. Left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension is associated with a twofold increase in risk of myocardial infarction, sudden death and stroke, and a fourfold increase in risk of heart failure. While coronary artery disease is the most common cause of heart failure in men, hypertension and in particular untreated isolated systolic hypertension is the most common cause in women. Heart failure symptoms may be subtle in hypertension, like tiredness or reduced physical capacity. Echocardiography can reveal subclinical heart disease as well as serve as a guide to correct diagnosis and treatment.