The heart is of great importance in systemic hypertension; it has a ro
le in its pathogenesis but also suffers its consequences. Heart diseas
e is, therefore, often found in hypertensive patients. Patients with h
ypertension may develop left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac failure
and atherosclerotic vascular problems, such as coronary artery disease
, as well as strokes and peripheral vascular disease. There have been
a great many advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of hype
rtensive heart disease as well as its epidemiology over the last decad
e and these are reviewed briefly here.