Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Predictions Improved by New Marker

Strategic Insights -

A recent study has identified a new biomarker, left ventricular mass-to-strain ratio (LV-MSR), that can accurately predict changes in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and prognosis in patients with hypertensive heart disease. Researchers at the Department of Cardiology analyzed data from 1600 patients who underwent echocardiography at the time of hypertension diagnosis and at 6- to 18-month intervals. The study found that LV-MSR independently predicts LVH changes and clinical outcomes, outperforming LV mass index and global longitudinal strain alone.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researchers at the Department of Cardiology analyzed data from 1600 patients with hypertensive heart disease to evaluate the left ventricular mass-to-strain ratio (LV-MSR) as a marker of clinical course.
  • The study found that LV-MSR showed the highest discriminatory value for LVH changes, with an area under the curve of 0.726 (95% CI, 0.685-0.760), outperforming LV mass index (area under the curve, 0.690 [95% CI 0.648-0.728]; P < 0.001) and LV-global longitudinal strain alone.
  • The median interval between echocardiograms was 10.2 months (interquartile range, 6.8-13.4), with 23.4% of patients having concentric LVH and 21.5% having eccentric LVH at baseline.
  • The research concluded that LV-MSR independently predicts LVH changes and clinical outcomes in hypertensive heart disease, serving as a superior prognostic marker compared with LV mass index or LV-global longitudinal strain alone.
  • The study was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease (2022;14(19)).
  • Additional authors for the research include Hyue Mee Kim, Jiesuck Park, Hong-Mi Choi, Yeonyee E. Yoon, and Goo-Yeong Cho.

Statistics:

  • 1600 patients with hypertensive heart disease were analyzed in the study (mean age 65.1 years; 61.1% male).
  • 23.4% of patients had concentric LVH and 21.5% had eccentric LVH at baseline.
  • The median interval between echocardiograms was 10.2 months (interquartile range, 6.8-13.4).
  • The area under the curve for LV-MSR was 0.726 (95% CI, 0.685-0.760), outperforming LV mass index (area under the curve, 0.690 [95% CI 0.648-0.728]; P < 0.001).

Sources:

  • Left Ventricular Mass-to-Strain Ratio to Predict Change in Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Prognosis in Hypertensive Heart Disease. Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease, 2025,14(19).
  • Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Seongnam Gyeonggi South Korea.
  • NewsRx. Research on Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Detailed by Researchers at Department of Cardiology (Left Ventricular Mass-to-Strain Ratio to Predict Change in Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Prognosis in Hypertensive Heart Disease). Cardiovascular Week. October 20, 2025; p 132.