Association of Grades of Diastolic Dysfunction with Severity of Systemic Hypertension

Abstract

Background: Diastolic dysfunction refers to the impairment of ventricular relaxation or filling, regardless of ejection fraction. This study was conducted to examine the association between the grades of diastolic dysfunction and the severity of systemic hypertension.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of diastolic dysfunction in systemic hypertension and to investigate the relationship between the grades of diastolic dysfunction and the severity of systemic hypertension.

Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of two years at the outpatient and inpatient departments of General Medicine at Aarupadai Veedu Medical College, Puducherry. A sample of 110 patients with systemic hypertension was selected. Demographic data, hypertension stage, and echocardiographic findings were collected. Inferential statistics, including the Chi-square test, were used to analyze the correlation between diastolic dysfunction and stages of systemic hypertension.

Results: Stage I hypertension, observed in 32.4% of participants, represents the initial phase of elevated blood pressure. Stage II hypertension, the most prevalent at 44.1%, indicates moderate severity and is commonly associated with early signs of organ dysfunction and damage, including changes in cardiac structure and function. Stage III hypertension, seen in 23.4% of participants, reflects severe hypertension with significant cardiovascular risk and advanced end-organ damage. Diastolic dysfunction (DD) was classified into grades to reflect the severity of the condition. Grade II DD, the most common, was present in 41.4% of participants, indicating moderate dysfunction. Grade I DD, reflecting mild dysfunction, was found in 32.4% of participants. Grade III DD, indicating more severe dysfunction, affected 18.9% of participants, while Grade IV DD, the most severe form, was observed in 7.2% of participants. The statistical analysis revealed a significant association between the stages of systemic hypertension and the grades of diastolic dysfunction (p=0.0027), indicating a strong relationship.

Conclusion: The study underscores the prevalence of diastolic dysfunction in patients with systemic hypertension and highlights a significant association between the severity of diastolic dysfunction and the stages of systemic hypertension.