LEFT VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS: PREVALENCE AND DETERMINANTS IN A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective: This study  aimed to assess the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and determine its clinical and demographic determinants in patients with hypertension.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including 200 hypertensive patients visiting a primary care clinic during January 2024 and June 2025. Demographic and clinical information, such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), duration of hypertension, blood pressure (BP) control, and comorbidities were noted. Every respondent received an echocardiography to determine left ventricular mass (LVM) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI). Pearson correlation and multivariate logistic regression were used to establish relationships with LVH. A p-value of less than 0.05 was taken as a significant statistical value.

Results: Mean age of the participants was 57.8 ± 12.1 years and 50% of the respondents were male. The incidence of LVH was 34% (68/200), and concentric hypertrophy was the most widespread pattern (58.8%). LVMI revealed positive correlations with systolic BP (r = 0.53, p < 0.001) and duration of hypertension (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), and also BMI (r = 0.36, p < 0.001). The multivariate analysis indicated that longer hypertension duration (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.6–4.9), uncontrolled BP (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.85-5.7), greater BMI (OR 1.9 per 5 kg/m² increase, 95% CI 1.2-3.0) and male sex (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0-2.9) had an independent association with LVH.

Conclusion: LVH occurs in about one-third of hypertensive patients and is independently related to longer duration of the disease, uncontrolled BP, increased BMI and male gender. Timely echocardiographic screening and regulation of modifiable risk factors could help mitigate the cardiovascular morbidity of LVH.