Publication:

Study of diastolic dysfunction in essential hypertension patients in relation to age and duration of treatment

Background Hypertension is a major health problem worldwide and its complications have significant socioeconomic impact. The objective of this study was to evaluate diastolic dysfunction (DD) in essential hypertension patients and the influence of age and duration of hypertension on this parameter.

Methods One hundred essential hypertensive patients (HT) underwent Doppler echocardiography to obtain E/A wave ratio (E/A), atrial deceleration time (ADT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) and Tissue Doppler early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E). All patients were grouped according to age at diagnosis of hypertension and duration of the disease.

Results A higher prevalence of DD occurred parallel to age and duration of the disease.

Conclusions DD was prevalent in this hypertensive population, being highly affected by age and DD is observed in incipient stages of hypertensive heart disease, and thus its early detection may help in the risk stratification of hypertensive patients.