PS-C13-9: BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL AND THE LEFT VENTRICULAR ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PROGRESSION IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS: AN 18 MONTHS FOLLOW-UP STUDY

Abstract

Objectives: The impact of blood pressure control on left ventricular (LV) geometry and function remains unclear. The present study was to assess whether BP control associated with conventional LV geometry and function indexes or global longitudinal strain (GLS) progression, and when the echocardiographic changes would occur in hypertensive patients. Methods and Results: A total of 62 participants (mean age 55.2 ± 11.5, male 71.0%) with uncontrolled hypertension were included in the longitudinal study. The follow-up study was performed at 6 months and 18 months, when echocardiographic measurements were performed and BP control was evaluated during the follow up period. At the 6- and 18-months examination, patients were divided into two groups: BP controlled group and uncontrolled group. Patients with BP uncontrolled group (n = 33) had higher LV mass index(P = 0.02), higher left atrial volume index (P = 0.01), worse GLS (P = 0.005) and GLS changes (P = 0.003) compared with BP controlled group (n = 29) at the end of 6 months follow-up period. Patients with BP uncontrolled group (n = 25) had higher LV mass index(P = 0.001), higher LV mass index changes(p = 0.01), higher relative wall thickness (P = 0.01), higher E/e’ (p = 0.046), worse GLS (P = 0.02) and GLS changes (P = 0.02) compared with BP controlled group (n = 24) at the end of 18 months follow-up period. GLS changes was associated with BP control (beta = 0.370, P = 0.004 at 6 months and beta = 1.531, P = 0.02 at 18 months) in stepwise multivariate regression analysis. LV mass index changes was associated with BP control (beta = 0.426, P = 0.003) at the end of 18 months in stepwise multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions: Our findings offer a new piece of evidence on the association of BP control with echocardiographic changes in hypertensive patients, especially support the view that GLS progression was superior to conventional LV geometry and function parameters, GLS changes were significant between BP controlled and uncontrolled patients even in 6 months follow-up period.