Prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy in a general population - The Tromso Study

Aims Left ventricular hypertrophy has been shown to be an independent predi ctor of cardiovascular morbidity. Acknowledging the skewed distribution of left ventricular mass, we wanted to develop criteria for left ventricular h ypertrophy based on percentiles of left ventricular mass, and observe the e ffect on estimates of left ventricular hypertrophy prevalences in different subgroups and on the relationship to cardiovascular risk factors in a gene ral population. Methods and Results In a population-based sample of 3287 subjects aged 25-8 5 years, left ventricular mass was estimated using M-mode echocardiography. A 'healthy' subgroup was used as a reference sample to define sex specific left ventricular hypertrophy criteria. Sex-specific 97.5 percentiles for l eft ventricular mass by height, based on the reference sample, were 145.5 a nd 125.4 g . m(-1), for men and women, respectively. The prevalences of lef t ventricular hypertrophy in the total population were 14.9% for men and 9. 1% for women. The main independent predictors of left ventricular hypertrop hy were male gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, valvular hea rt disease, cardiovascular disease and antihypertensive medication. Body ma ss index and systolic blood pressure had a strong synergistic association w ith left ventricular hypertrophy in men, but not in women. Conclusion An alternative framework for defining left ventricular hypertrop hy is provided. Body mass index is the culprit factor for risk of left vent ricular hypertrophy. Our study indicates that weight reduction is a relevan t measure for treatment and possibly prevention of left ventricular hypertr ophy in a substantial part of the general population.