The change in quality of life in drug-treated hypertensive patients after 10 years of antihypertensive treatment

Background: Non-specific ST-T change in electrocardiogram, a marker of impaired repolarization in the myocardium, can be observed among hypertensive patients; however, relationship between non-specific ST-T change and myocardial regional wall motion at inner and outer layers remains was unclear. Methods: In 288 hypertensive patients undergoing echocardiography for the screening of hypertensive heart disease, we evaluated 2D speckletracking stain. In electrocardiogram, major ST-T change was defined as ST depression >1⁄4 0.1mV, and non-specific ST-T change was defined as minor ST-T depression (<0.1mV) or flat T wave in any leads. Results:Mean age was 63.4 13.2 years (male 47.9%). There were 29.6 % of patients with non-specific ST-T change and 5.6 % of those with major ST-T change. Patients with non-specific ST-T change had greater Cornell product (P1⁄40.018), Sokolow-Lyon voltage (P<0.001), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (P1⁄40.014), septal E/e’ (P1⁄40.019). The patient with non-specific ST-T change had greater global longitudinal strain (GLS) (-12.8 3.0 vs. -14.0 2.6, P1⁄40.010) and the relationship was similar in both inner and outer layer. Patients with non-specific ST-T change had greater GLS than those without even after adjustment for conventional risk factors and LVMI (P1⁄40.042). There were no significant differences in radial or circumferential strain between patients with and without non-specific ST-T change. Results: Non-specific ST-T change in electrocardiogram was associated with global longitudinal strain in both inner and outer myocardial layer.