KUMJ | VOL. 7 | NO. 2 | ISSUE 26 | APRIL-JUNE, 2009

Left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension: Correlation between electrocardiography and echocardiography
Prakash O, Karki P, Sharma SK

Background: Hypertension is an important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. Left ventricular hypertrophy – the marker of hypertension, has emerged as an independent risk factor that can be detected by electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography (ECHO).
Objective: Correlation of electrocardiography and echocardiographically detected left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients.
Materials and methods: Hundred patients with hypertension were studied for left ventricular hypertrophy by the help of electrocardiography and echocardiography. Left ventricular hypertrophy on ECG was assessed by the help of Sokolow- Lyon Voltage Criteria (SLV) and Romhilt – Estes Point Score (R/E).
Results: Among 100 patients, 60 were males and 40 were females. Mean age for male was 54.82 + 12.10 years and 52.95 + 11.63 years for female.
The mean systolic blood pressure for male was 150.47 + 20 mmHg and for female 148.60 + 16.95 mmHg; where as Diastolic blood pressure for male was 93.67 + 11.13 mmHg and for female it was 96.05 + 12.47 mmHg. Echocardiography detected left ventricular hypertrophy in 64% patients. Electrocardiography detected Left Ventricular Hypertrophy by R/E and SLV criteria 13% and 34% respectively.
Conclusion: In developing and under developed country ECG is a useful tool for detection of LVH where the facilities of echocardiography and trained echocardiographer are still not in a common man’s reach.