Echocardiographic features and QT dispersion in borderline isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly

The aim of our study was to examine the structure of left ventricle, diasto lic filling indexes and QT dispersion in elderly patients (aged 60 years an d over) with borderline isolated systolic hypertension in a population scre ening program and to compare them with age matched controls. One hundred and four subjects (66 female, 38 male, mean age 66+/-5) and 110 normotensive age and sex matched controls (64 female, 46 male, mean age 66 +/-5) were included in the study. Echocardiographic features of left ventri cle, left atrium and cardiac valves, diastolic filling indexes and QT dispe rsion in 12 lead electrocardiographic examination were studied. In borderline hypertensive elderly, left ventricular hypertrophy was a more frequent finding compared with the controls (33% versus 15% respectively). Diastolic filling indexes were impaired, presence of left atrial enlargeme nt and cardiac valve calcification were also more frequent in the patients group. In the electrocardiographic examination, the duration of QT and corr ected QT interval and dispersion of QT and QTc were significantly prolonged compared with the controls. It is concluded that patients with borderline isolated systolic hypertensio n have more unfavourable echocardiographic and electrocardiographic finding s compared with the normotensive elderly and especially those with end orga n damage should be treated as defined for isolated systolic hypertension. ( C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.