Comparison between strain and strain rate in hypertensive patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy: a speckle-tracking study

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to compare strain and strain rate (SR) values, measured by speckle tracking, in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and in those without LVH.BackgroundEchocardiographic evaluation of the left ventricular (LV) strain and SR by two-dimensional speckle tracking may be a useful tool to assess the substantial impairment of systolic or diastolic function both in hypertensive patients with and without LVH.Patients and methodsWe compared 50 patients with hypertension, 25 with LVH and 25 without LVH, with age-matched and sex-matched control group (25 patients) using two-dimensional speckle tracking measurements of LV longitudinal strain and SR in the apical two-chamber, three-chamber, and four-chamber views.ResultsSignificant reduction of global longitudinal LV systolic strain was observed in hypertensive patients with LVH (group 1) when compared with hypertensive patients without LVH (group 2) (P = 0.04). Significantly reduced global LV longitudinal SR values were found in group 1 when compared with controls at peak systole (peak S) (P = 0.02) and when compared with group 2 (P = 0.02) in early diastolic phase (at peak E). In contrast, no significant reduction of SR values was found between the studied groups in late diastolic phase (at peak A) (P = 0.13).ConclusionSubstantial impairment of LV systolic function assessed by longitudinal strain was found in both the hypertensive groups as evidenced by the highly significant reduction of LV global strain values. The SR values were significantly reduced in both the hypertensive group in early diastole and the hypertensive group with LVH at peak systole.