Left ventricular hypertrophy screening using a hand-held ultrasound device

Aims: To test the diagnostic potential of a hand-held ultrasound device for screening for left ventricular hypertrophy in a hypertensive population using a standard echocardiographic system as a reference. Methods: One hundred consecutive hypertensive patients were enrolled. An experienced investigator performed measurements of the thickness of the anterior septum and posterior wall using the parasternal 2D-long axis view and the end-diastolic dimension of the left ventricle with both imaging devices. Left ventricular hypertrophy was defined as an increase in left ventricular mass ≥ 134 g. m^-2 for men and ≥ 110 g. m^-2 for women, when indexed for body surface area and ≥ 143 g. m^-1 for men and ≥ 102 g. m^-1 for women, when indexed for height. Results: Sixty-five men and 35 women were studied (age 60 ± 11 years); mean duration of hypertension: 13 ± 11 years; mean blood pressures: systolic 150 ± 20 mmHg and diastolic 89 ± 11 mmHg. The anterior septum and posterior wall were visualized in all patients with both imaging devices. The standard echocardiographic system identified left ventricular hypertrophy by body surface area in 18 (18%) patients and by height in 26 (26%) patients. The agreement between the standard echocardiographic system and the hand-held device for the assessment of left ventricular hypertrophy was 93%, kappa: 0.77 (left ventricular mass/body surface area) and 90%, kappa: 0.76 (left ventricular mass/height). Conclusions: We conclude that hand-held devices can be effectively applied for screening for left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients.