Baseline characteristics in relation to electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients - The Losartan Intervention for Endpoint reduction (LIFE) in hypertension study

The Losartan Intervention For Endpoint (LIFE) reduction in hypertension stu dy is a double-blind, prospective, parallel group study designed to compare the effects of losartan with those of atenolol on the reduction of cardiov ascular morbidity and mortality. A total of 9194 patients with hypertension and ECG left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by Cornell voltage-duration pro duct and/or Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria were enrolled in the study, with baseline clinical and ECG data available in 8785 patients (54% women; mean age, 67 +/- 7 years). ECG LVH by Cornell voltage-duration product criteria was present in 5791 patients (65.9%) and by Sokolow-Lyon voltage in 2025 pa tients (23.1%), Compared with patients without ECG LVH by Cornell voltage-d uration product criteria, patients with ECG LVH by this method were:older; more obese; more likely to be female, white, and to have never smoked; more likely to be diabetic and have angina; and had slightly higher systolic, d iastolic, and pulse blood pressures. In contrast, patients with ECG LVH by Sokolow-Lyon criteria were slightly younger; less obese; more likely to be male, black, and current smokers; less likely to have diabetes; more likely to have angina and a history of cerebrovascular disease; and had higher sy stolic and pulse blood pressure but slightly lower diastolic blood pressure than patients without ECG LVH by this method. By use of multivariate logis tic regression analyses, presence of ECG LVH by Cornell voltage-duration pr oduct criteria was predominantly associated with higher body mass index, in creased age, and female gender, whereas presence of ECG LVH by Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria was predominantly related to lower body mass index, male gender, and black racer: Thus, hypertensive patients who meet Cornell produ ct and Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria are associated with different, but pot entially equally adverse, risk factor profiles.