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 greater than or equal to 134 g . m(-2) for men and greater than or equal to 110 g . m(-2) for women, when indexed for body surface area and greater than or equal to 143 g . m(-1) for men and greater than or equal to 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. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of The European Society of Cardiology.