Marijana Tadic1, Cesare Cuspidi2, Vera Celic1, Branislava Ivanovic3, Biljana Pencic1, Guido Grassi4,5. 1. University Clinical Hospital Center 'Dr Dragisa Misovic - Dedinje', Department of Cardiology, Belgrade, Serbia. 2. University of Milan-Bicocca and IstitutoAuxologicoItaliano, Clinical Research Unit, Meda, Italy. 3. Clinical Centre of Serbia, Cardiology Clinic, Koste Todorovica 6, Belgrade, Serbia. 4. Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Milano-Bicocca. 5. IRCCS Multimedica Sesto San Giovanni, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of sex on left ventricular mechanics in hypertensive individuals. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 171 untreated hypertensive patients and 112 normotensive controls who underwent a 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and comprehensive echocardiographic examination including strain assessment. RESULTS: Hypertensive women and men had significantly lower left ventricular global longitudinal and circumferential strains than their normotensive counterparts. Left ventricular global longitudinal strain was lower in hypertensive men than in women (-19.8 ± 2.2 vs. -17.9 ± 2.1%; P < 0.01). Left ventricular global circumferential strain was also reduced in hypertensive men in comparison with women (-21.0 ± 2.5 vs. -18.7 ± 2.3%; P < 0.01). The difference in left ventricular radial strain was not discovered between hypertensive women and men. Furthermore, left ventricular twist was significantly higher in hypertensive women than in hypertensive men (21.9 ± 4.1° vs. 20.6 ± 3.8°; P = 0.034). Female sex and arterial hypertension, and also their interaction, were associated with lower left ventricular mass index, increased left ventricular global longitudinal, and circumferential strains and increased left ventricular twist compared with hypertensive men. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular longitudinal and circumferential strains were significantly reduced in hypertensive patients. However, the changes are more pronounced in hypertensive men than in women. Sex has a significant effect on the association between hypertension, and longitudinal and circumferential strain.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of sex on left ventricular mechanics in hypertensive individuals. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 171 untreated hypertensivepatients and 112 normotensive controls who underwent a 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and comprehensive echocardiographic examination including strain assessment. RESULTS:Hypertensivewomen and men had significantly lower left ventricular global longitudinal and circumferential strains than their normotensive counterparts. Left ventricular global longitudinal strain was lower in hypertensivemen than in women (-19.8 ± 2.2 vs. -17.9 ± 2.1%; P < 0.01). Left ventricular global circumferential strain was also reduced in hypertensivemen in comparison with women (-21.0 ± 2.5 vs. -18.7 ± 2.3%; P < 0.01). The difference in left ventricular radial strain was not discovered between hypertensivewomen and men. Furthermore, left ventricular twist was significantly higher in hypertensivewomen than in hypertensivemen (21.9 ± 4.1° vs. 20.6 ± 3.8°; P = 0.034). Female sex and arterial hypertension, and also their interaction, were associated with lower left ventricular mass index, increased left ventricular global longitudinal, and circumferential strains and increased left ventricular twist compared with hypertensivemen. CONCLUSION:Left ventricular longitudinal and circumferential strains were significantly reduced in hypertensivepatients. However, the changes are more pronounced in hypertensivemen than in women. Sex has a significant effect on the association between hypertension, and longitudinal and circumferential strain.