Association between gender and left ventricular geometry in hypertension

Background: The left ventricle assumes different geometric patterns in hypertension. The effect of gender on cardiac remodeling in hypertension is not established as previous studies have reported conflicting results. Objective: This study therefore seeks to determine the effect of gender on left ventricular geometric adaptation in hypertension. Methods: This study was performed in the cardiac clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State and it is a cross-sectional study. Echocardiography was carried out for 247 hypertensive subjects to determine their left ventricular geometry. Of these, 127 were females while 120 were males. The distribution of the left ventricular geometric patterns was then determined in each gender group. Statistical Analysis: Continuous variables were expressed as means. Independent t-test was used to compare two groups while one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) when more than two groups. Duncan multiple range test was then used to locate the source of difference. Categorical variables were expressed as percentages and the significance determined using the Chi-squared test. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In women, the distribution of the geometric patterns were as follows eccentric hypertrophy (EH) 31.5%, normal geometry (NG) 18.9%, concentric remodeling (CR) 22%, and concentric hypertrophy (CH) 27.6%. The distribution in men was NG 25.8%, CR 16.7%, CH 33.3% and EH 24.2%. There was no significant association between gender and left ventricular geometry (P value=0.249). Conclusions: Gender has no effect on left ventricular geometric adaptation in hypertension.