Left ventricle myocardial hypertrophy in women with arterial hypertension: justification of medical tactics

Abstract

Arterial hypertension (AH) is the most common cardiovascular disease risk factor. After the menopause the prevalence of AH in women greatly exceeds than in men. Hemodynamic characteristics in case of AH in postmenopausal women determine the higher risk and the speed of left ventricle myocardial hypertrophy (LMVH), diastolic and systolic dysfunction development. There 80 women aged 44-62 years (mean age of 53.2±4.1 years) in the early postmenopausal period were enrolled in the study and we found that the main influence on LV mass index and LMVH in addition to AH and the level of systolic blood pressure play the body mass index, the level of diastolic blood pressure and the indicators characterizing the distribution of adipose tissue, presence of abdominal obesity. Guidelines for the treatment of AH in men and women have no fundamental differences. However, taking into account the high prevalence of obesity, isolated systolic hypertension and LMVH in women with AH in postmenopausal period, the drugs of choice become angiotensin receptor blocker (ARBs) and the combinations of antihypertensive drugs on the basis of the ARBs, all these data for the first time ever were shown in the study LIFE concerning the application of losartan in the treatment.