Background In patients with hypertension diastolic dysfunction of left ventricle is early symptom and overtakes hypertrophy and systolic dysfunction. Seismocardiography (SCG) can be used for monitoring changes in cardiac function during exercise test (EXT) based on systolic and diastolic cardiac time intervals (CTI). The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of SCG for early diagnosis of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with primary hypertension.
Material and methods The study population consisted of 60 persons divided into two groups: A: 30 pts with essential hypertension, 37 ± 6 years with normal systolic and diastolic function; B: 30 healthy volunteers (HV), 34 ± 7 years. All of them had symptom-limited EXT on cycloergometer performed. SCG was done simultaneously with EXT. Workload in Watts, duration of EXT in minutes, HR and BP at rest and effort from EXT as well as CTI - PEP, IVCT, LVET, IVRT, PEP/LVET, MPI = (IVCT+IVRT)/LVET), g value, from SCG were measured.
Results Worse global myocardial performance in the group of hypertension pts in range of higher MPI 0.36 ± 0.11 vs. 0.26 ± 0.1 (p = 0.001) as well as diastolic dysfunction in range of prolongation of IVRT during exercise (56 ± 12 - 60 ± 19 ms) were stated. Longer IVRT (60 ± 18 vs. 38 ± 16) (p < 0.001) and lower g value (87 ± 29 vs. 106 ± 19) (p < 0.01) during exercise in comparison to HV were stated.
Conclusions Worse global myocardial performance in hypertension patients during exercise SCG in comparison with HV were stated. In hypertensive patients diastolic dysfunction during exercise SCG was revealed. Seismocardiography may be useful method for early diagnosis of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. key words: seismocardiography, primary hypertension, diastolic dysfunction Arterial Hypertension 2007, vol. 11, no 4, pages 304-309.