Study of Relationship between Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Arterial Stiffness in Aged Patients with Essential Hypertension

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between left ventricular hypertrophy and arterial stiffness in aged patients with essential hypertension. Methods: Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were used as indexes to estimate left ventricular hypertrophy and arterial stiffness respectively. The relationships between LVMI and PWV and other influencing factors in 108 aged patients with essential hypertension were evaluated with univariate analysis and stepwise regressive analysis. PWV value was compared in subjects stratified by left ventricular hypertrophy. Results: LVMI was positively correlated with PWV, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, duration of hypertension, gender and body mass index, and negatively correlated with hypertensive medication. PWV value in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy was significantly higher than that of non- ventricular hypertrophy people(P 0.001). PWV value was related to the severity of left ventricular hypertrophy. Conclusion: The increased arterial stiffness is an important factor which lead to left ventricular hypertrophy in aged patients with essential hypertension.