The scope of this entire study is to examine the patients as follows::
Complete Echocardiographic Study including the index of left ventricular mass and relative
wall thickness (RWT), measurement acquired from left parasternal longitudinal axis.
Further assessment will be diastolic function and filling pressures of the left ventricle
using all indices of diastolic function that can be applied in patients with preserved
ejection fraction according to the relevant guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology
.
This will include the tissue velocities of the mitral annulus (lateral, septal and average)
and the ratio of early diastolic transmitral speed to early diastolic mitral annulus
velocity.
The flow of the right upper pulmonary vein , will be recorded during the reverse wave. The
flow in pulmonary veins (average of 3 different measurements) will be recorded additionally.
The transmitral A wave duration will also be measured, with the Pulsed Doppler sample volume
placed at the level of the mitral annulus (average of 3 different measures). The time
difference between the Ar-A (reverse pulmonary venous - transmitral flow A wave) will be
calculated .
The percentage change of E/A ratio with Valsalva will only be calculated in those patients
who perform a substantial Valsalva manoeuvre, as an absolute decrease of E wave at least 20
cm / s.
Left atrial volume index (LAVI) and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) will also be
estimated.
Besides left ventricular diastolic function and filling pressures, investigators will also
estimate the diameter of the ascending aorta and aortic arch (absolute values and indexed for
body surface area).
The study of the endothelial function will be done by the method of flow-mediated dilatation
of the right brachial artery by estimating the FMD.
Intima-media thickness of common carotic arteries will also be performed.
Quality of life and level of emotional stress- depression will be assessed with the use of
specific questionnaires (EQ-5D questionnaires, Short Form 36 health survey questionnaire
(SF-36), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)).
Patient compliance with antihypertensive treatment will be assessed with the following
questionnaires : Brief Medication Questionnaire 1 (BDQ1), Morisky 8-item Medication Adherence
Questionnaire.
Additional evaluations will assess co-morbidities in each patient, taking a detailed medical
history during the initial diagnostic examination (obstructive sleep apnea , diabetes and
glycosylated hemoglobin calculation HbA1 , renal impairment by calculating creatinine
clearance , etc.)
After 'three months' follow-up investigators will evaluate the efficacy of therapy in the
regulation of hypertension for all patients. Baseline evaluations will be repeated at three
months
complete echocardiographic assessment
diastolic left ventricular dysfunction
patients compliance with treatment. Investigators will seek correlations with
co-morbidities and patient's age.
diastolic left ventricular dysfunction
RWT,
Left ventricular mass index,
LAVI, RVSP,
Ascending Aorta,
Aortic Arch,
FMD,
IMT,
QoL,
emotional stress,
compliance between the two groups, and will seek correlations with co-morbidities and
patient age.