Determinant and Impact of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) in Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) Patients

Abstract

Left ventricular hypertrophy is the most common cardiovascular complication in chronic renal failure. It appears to be associated with excess mortality. Objective: To determine the factors associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and to describe their influence on renal function. Patients and methods: This was a descriptive and analytical study conducted over 6 years (January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2017) on CKD patients who had an electrocardiogram or cardiac ultrasound. Results: A total of 329 patients were included. LVH was found in 223 patients, a prevalence of 68%. The sex ratio M/F was 2.1. Mean age was 51.05±14.17 years (range 11-95 years). Arterial hypertension predominated (97% of cases), followed by diabetes (26%).Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that LVH was associated with: age ≤51 years (p=0.0037) and with arterial hypertension (p=0.0018) and anemia (p=0.0018). Over a 5-year period, CKD patients with LVH experienced a more rapid decline in renal function than those without LVH (p<0.0001). There was also a higher rate of death in patients with LVH (83%) than in those without (46%) during a 5-year follow-up. Conclusion: LVH is an important factor in the poor prognosis of CKD. This calls for systematic screening and early management by a multidisciplinary team.