Left Ventricular Geometry and Function in Patients with Gray Zone Hypertension

Background: Hypertension is considered as the silent killer of human because the hypertensive patient may be not aware that he has hypertension and death can occur at any time without the reason being known. We aim to study the effect of gray zone hypertension [SBP from 120-139] and or [DBP from 80-89] which was classified as prehypertension under JNC-7 on the structure, geometry, and operation of the left ventricle using echocardiography

Methods: This study included 100 patients who asymptomatic apparent healthy subjects visited cardiology outpatient department (OPD) for routine checkup. Patients were grouped into two equal groups: Group A whose blood pressure was in the gray zone hypertension [SBP from 120-139] and or [DBP from 80-89], and group B with SBP <120 mmHg & DBP <80 mmHg.

Results: The two groups being studied were statistically significant different as regard LV geometrical pattern (p=0.028). They were also statistically significant in LV geometrical pattern between the males and females (p<0.05). The two groups were statistically significant different regarding GLS (p =0.001).

Conclusions: Gray zone hypertension affects ventricular diastolic function and LV geometry, although systolic function was normal; GLS showed that subclinical LV dysfunction can occur.