Patients characteristics
| Total (n = 63) | LVH (n = 41) | No LVH (n = 22) | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 55 (16) | 58 (15) | 49 (18) | 0.04 |
| Male/female | 40 / 23 | 24 / 17 | 16 / 6 | NS |
| Heart rate (beats/min) | 68 (13) | 69 (13) | 70 (13) | NS |
| Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 136 (26) | 139 (30) | 131 (15) | NS |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 76 (16) | 74 (17) | 76 (16) | NS |
| Causes of aortic regurgitation | ||||
| Degenerative | 13 (21%) | 9 (22%) | 4 (18%) | NS |
| Idiopathic | 20 (32%) | 12 (29%) | 8 (36%) | NS |
| Aortic root dilatation | 9 (14%) | 6 (15%) | 3 (14%) | NS |
| Bicuspid valve | 8 (13%) | 6 (15%) | 2 (9%) | NS |
| Infective endocarditis | 4 (6%) | 3 (7%) | 1 (5%) | NS |
| Other causes | 9 (14%) | 5 (12%) | 4 (18%) | NS |
| Concomitant diseases | ||||
| Coronary artery disease | 12 (19%) | 8 (20%) | 4 (18%) | NS |
| Systemic hypertension | 12 (19%) | 9 (22%) | 3 (14%) | NS |
| Drugs | ||||
| Calcium antagonists | 8 (13%) | 5 (12%) | 3 (14%) | NS |
| β Blockers | 12 (19%) | 10 (24%) | 2 (9%) | NS |
| ACE inhibitors | 11 (17%) | 8 (20%) | 3 (14%) | NS |
| Nitrates | 2 (3%) | 2 (5%) | 0 (0%) | NS |
Data are presented as mean (SD) or number (%) of patient group.
ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; LVH, left ventricular hypertrophy.