Intensive lowering of systolic blood pressure can prevent malignant LVH: JACC

A new study conducted by Simon Ascher and team found that among SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) individuals with baseline malignant left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering avoided malignant LVH and may offer a significant absolute risk reduction in the composite of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) occurrences and mortality. The findings of this study were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Malignant LVH, which combines left ventricular hypertrophy with increases in cardiac biomarkers showing myocardial damage and neurohormonal stress, is linked to a significant risk of heart failure and mortality. So, the purpose of this study was to find out how intensive systolic blood pressure management affected the prevention of malignant LVH and its effects.

The presence or absence of LVH as determined by a 12-lead ECG and elevations in biomarker levels (high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T 14 ng/L or N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide 125 pg/mL) at baseline were used to divide the 8,820 participants in the SPRINT study into groups. We compared the impact of intensive vs. conventional SBP reduction on the incidence and remission of malignant LVH, acute decompensated heart failure episodes, and mortality rates.