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The increased prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy and concentric remodeling in UK Indian Asians compared with European Whites

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 27, pages 288–293 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Individuals of Indian Asian ethnicity living in the UK have at least a 50% excess of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality compared with European whites, yet there are no validated tools capable of identifying this excess risk. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a powerful prognosticator for future CVD events but its prevalence in Indian Asians is unknown. We examined the prevalence of LVH and the degree of concentric remodeling amongst healthy UK Indian Asians compared with European whites recruited to the LOLIPOP (London Life Sciences Prospective Population) study. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 2127 subjects aged 35–75 years without history of clinical CVD events. The prevalence of LVH was defined and relative wall thickness was calculated to provide a measure of concentric remodeling. The prevalence of LVH was significantly higher amongst Indian Asian men as compared with European white men, with an unadjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.8 (95% CI: 1.4–2.6). Following adjustment for clinical and hemodynamic variables, the magnitude of this effect increased (OR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.9–4.2). The degree of concentric remodeling was higher amongst Indian Asians as compared with European whites (adjusted relative wall thickness for men: 0.41 vs 0.39, P<0.001; women: 0.40 vs 0.38, P<0.01). An almost threefold higher prevalence of LVH amongst Indian Asian men and a greater degree of concentric remodeling amongst Indian Asian men and women was evident. Investigation of the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of LV remodeling and blood pressure etiology may help redress the excess CVD mortality observed in Indian Asians.

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Acknowledgements

NSC, TKL, RS supported by Northwick Park Cardiac Research Fund. PJ, JCC and JSK supported by British Heart Foundation Grant SP/04/002.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Northwick Park Hospital, Royal Brompton Hospital, Harrow, London, UK

    N S Chahal, T K Lim & R Senior

  2. Biomedical Research Unit, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK

    N S Chahal, P Jain, J S Kooner & R Senior

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK

    J C Chambers

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  1. N S Chahal
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Correspondence to R Senior.

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Chahal, N., Lim, T., Jain, P. et al. The increased prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy and concentric remodeling in UK Indian Asians compared with European Whites. J Hum Hypertens 27, 288–293 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2012.50

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