Risk factors related to left ventricular hypertrophy in elderly hypertensive patients

Objective To analyze the risk factors related to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in elderly hypertensive patients.Methods 155 male elderly patients with hypertensive disease were divided into two groups:hypertension with LVH (45) and hypertension without LVH (110). Blood pressure parameters were measured using 24-hour ambulatory blood monitoring.Plasma fibrinogen and lipid were compared between the two groups. The effects of these factors on LVH were analyzed using stepwise multivariate regression analysis.Results There were no significant differences in age, body mass index, and body surface area between the two groups,but 24-hour average pulse pressure, systolic blood pressure, and plasma fibrinogen were significantly different.Rise in 24-hour average pulse pressure was regarded as a significant independent risk factor of LVH.Conclusion Hypertension accompanied by LVH is caused by many factors such as long and under-controlled blood pressure, metabolic disorders etc.,among which rise in pulse pressure may be more apt to be associated with LVH.