Prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy detected by Cornell voltageduration product in a hypertensive population

Abstract

Introduction. Detection and treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertension is important in order to reduce cardiovascular risk. The product of QRS voltage and duration (e.g. Cornell voltage-duration product; CorP), is a good marker of LVH and the current study was designed to determine the prevalence of LVH in patients with essential hypertension treated in general practice. Methods. This study was a multicenter, cross-sectional survey in outpatient hypertensive patients attending clinics across Spain. The primary endpoint for detection of LVH was a CorP >2.440 mm·ms on ECG recordings, which were independently assessed. Results. Seven hundred and eighty-two patients were evaluated (66.1 ± 10.4 years; 50.6% males; body mass index 28.2 ± 6.1 kg/m2) with a mean baseline blood pressure (BP) of 155.7 ± 17.7/90. 8± 10.6 mmHg. Only 13.2% of the study population had BP that was adequately controlled. LVH was detected in 23.4% of patients using the CorP method. Predictors of LVH were prior history of LVH, hypertensive retinopathy, age, grade II hypertension and male gender. Conclusions. Almost one-quarter of hypertensive patients who attended outpatient clinics in Spain had LVH detected by CorP. The CorP criterion appears to be a useful method for detecting LVH in general practice.