Determinants of left ventricular hypertrophy in arterial hypertension.

A long term study (2-7 years, mean 3.6 years) monitoring 112 clinical and echocardiographic pattern in 593 hypertensives and 156 normotensives was performed in order to find associations to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) developing later. 49% of the hypertensives developed echocardiographic signs of LVH (wall thickness of 12 mm and more), in contrast to 5.1% of normotensive persons. Multivariate analysis revealed the following parameters examined at entry were associated with LVH on follow-up: male sex, prolonged hypertensive history, higher diastolic blood pressure, frequent lipid-metabolism disturbances, uncharacteristic chest pain and less effective antihypertensive treatment. Thus, LVH development can be regarded as a multifactorial process.