The changes of left ventricular longitudinal systolic function depending on hypertension and its control: analysis in a population

Aim To evaluate changes in left ventricular (LV) systolic function by LV myocardial global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global strain rate (GSR) in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and based on the effectiveness of blood pressure (BP) control in a Russian population sample of individuals older than 55 years.
Materials and methods This cross-sectional study was a population-based cohort study (HAPIEE, Novosibirsk). LV myocardial GLS and GSR were studied by echocardiography in a random sample (n=1004, 55–84 years). Statistical analysis was performed with multivariate models of logistic regression.
Results AH prevalence in the study sample was 78.4 %. Mean GLS was 19.1 % (SD, 4.07), which was less for men than for women (p=0.001). Mean GSR was 0.86 s-1 (SD, 0.19) and was not different between men and women. In individuals with AH, the GLS absolute value was lower than in normotensive people (18.8 %; SD, 4.04 vs. 20.2 %; SD, 4.03, p˂0.001); these differences remained irrespective of the age, gender, body weight index (BWI) (p=0.027), and LV mass index (p=0.05). When people with AH were divided into groups, the lowest GLS absolute values were observed among “ineffectively treated” or not receiving any therapy individuals (p<0.001 vs. normotensive group). AH 1.6 times increased the risk of LV GLS decrease. In individuals with AH, the GSR absolute value was lower than in normotensive people (– 0.85 s-1 (SD, 0.19) vs.– 0.92 s-1 (SD, 0.18), p<0.001); this difference remained in multivariate models. The lowest GSR absolute values were observed in the “ineffectively treated“ group irrespective of the gender, age, and BWI (p=0.036 vs. normotensive group). AH doubled the risk of LV GSR decrease, which could be partially explained by the contribution of BWI and myocardial mass index.
Conclusion In this population sample, LV GLS and GSR were independently associated with AH. The lowest GLS and GSR values were observed for ineffectively treated” individuals with AH, which may reflect an early decline of LV systolic function with inadequate control of AH.

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