The use of limited echocardiography in systemic arterial hypertension

Left ventricular hypertrophy is an important, independent risk factor for cardiac morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients. When properly performed and interpreted, limited echocardiography for the assessment of left ventricular hypertrophy and calculation of left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients is a relatively simple, accurate, and comparatively inexpensive, noninvasive imaging tool that is widely available. The test is used to detect increased left ventricular mass as a risk factor to help decide whether to initiate antihypertensive drug therapy in specific circumstances. Because of cost considerations, limited echocardiography is not recommended as a screening tool in all hypertensive patients. However, even though not proved by clinical trials, when used in a targeted fashion, the overall financial effect of using limited echocardiography could actually be a decrease in the total cost of lifetime care in selected hypertensive patients.