Relation of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy to blood pressure, body mass index, serum lipids and blood sugar levels in adult Nigerians

Abstract

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is considered an independent risk factor even in the absence of systemic hypertension. Electrocardiographic (ECG) LVH with repolarization changes has been found in some countries to carry more coronary risk than LVH alone. How far this observation is true among adult Nigerians is not known. We therefor e decided to study adult Nigerians with ECG - LVH with or without ST-T waves changes and compare them with normal a g e matched controls (without ECG-LVH) in relation with established modifiable risk factors such as systemic hypertension (BP), body mass index (BMI). fasting blood sugar (FBS) and scrum lipids such as total cholesterol (Tc), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG). Adult Nigerians however consecutively referred to the EGG laboratory were randomly recanted. Three hundred patients were studied. Their blood pressures (BP) as well as body mass indices were recorded after recording their resting 12 read EGG using portable Seward 9953 EGG machine Their waist-hip ratio (WI-IR) w a s also recorded. Blood samples were taken to determine their fasting blood sugar and scrum lipids Their EGG tracings were read by the cardiologists involved in the study while the blood samples were analyzed by the chemical pathologist also involved in the study. At the end of the EGG reading, the patients were divided into 3 groups according to whether there was no EGG-LVH (control group A). EGG-LVH alone (group B), and EGG-LVH with ST-T waves changes (group C) One hundred and fifty (50%) patients belonged to group A. 100 (33 3®'o) patients to group B and 50 (16.7%) group C Group B patients were found to have higher modifiable risk factors in form of systemic BP. Tc. LDL-C. and WHR compared to group A. However, the group C patients had increased load of these coronary risk factors in terms of UP elevation, higher BMI. FBS. and serum cholesterol compared to group B In addition, more female patients were involved in group C The mean age of group C patients compared to group B was also significantly higher (p<0.001> even though no significant age difference was noted between group C and group A patients It is concluded that Nigerians with ECG-LVH with ST-T waves changes have increased risk of cardiovascular risk factors compared to normal group A patients and even patients with EGC-LVH (group B) alone. Hence, they represent subset of patients to be aggressively followed up with multiple risk factors intervention.