Relationship between severity of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and alterations in left ventricular geometrical configuration as detected by echocardiography in patients with essential hypertension

Objective To investigate the relationship between severity of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and alterations in left ventricular geometrical configuration in essential hypertension (EH) patients as detected by echocardiography. Methods A total of 265 EH patients who underwent echocardiography in our department between July 2017 and April 2019 were enrolled. According to Ganau classification, they were divided into group A (normal left ventricular configuration, n=72) , group B (left ventricular centripetal remodeling, n=58) , group C (left ventricular eccentric hypertrophy, n=65) and group D (left ventricular centripetal hypertrophy, n=70) . The clinical data, routine echocardiographic parameters and left ventricular diastolic function indicators were compared among the 4 groups. Results There were no significant differences in gender, age, HR, SBP, DBP or BMI among the four groups (all P>0.05) . Compared with group A, LAD and LVEDD were lower in group B and greater in group C and group D (all P<0.05) . LVPWT and IVST in groups B, C and D were higher than those in group A (all P<0.05) . Compared with group B, the group C showed greater LAD and LVEDD but lower LVPWT (all P<0.05) , whereas all of these parameters were greater in group (all P<0.05) . Compared with group C, the LVEDD, LVPWT and IVST were greater in group D. The LVMI in group C and group D was higher than that in group A and group B. The RWT in group A and group C was lower than that in group B and group D (P< 0.05) . Compared with group A, the left ventricular diastolic function indicators E/A and Em in groups B, C and D were lower. E/Em in group D was higher than that in group A, group B and group C (all P<0.05) . Conclusion In EH patients, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is more severe in patients with left ventricular centripetal hypertrophy than in those with left ventricular eccentric hypertrophy. Use of echocardiography may sensitively and accurately evaluate the left ventricular diastolic function. Key words: Echocardiography; Essential hypertension; Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction; Geometric configuration