Interventricular septum thickness predicts future systolic hypertension in young healthy pilots

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been associated with hypertension, although debate exists as to wether LVH is caused by elevated blood pressure (BP) or is a risk factor for its development. The present study evaluates the association between left ventricular structure and the development of hypertension in a young healthy population. We followed young healthy Israeli Air Force aviators from initial echocardiography at the start of their military service to a mean of 7.5±3.0 years. Data collection included annual BP measurements, height, weight, smoking habits, and lipid profile. We monitored 500 Air Force men with a mean age of 20.5±3.3 (range, 17-40) years and baseline BP of 125±13/74±8 mmHg. Systolic BP during follow-up was associated with baseline systolic BP, interventricular septum (IVS) thickness, and ejection fraction, whereas diastolic BP was associated only with baseline diastolic BP and body mass index. The probability that the systolic BP during follow-up would be higher than the median was twice that in those with an IVS thickness greater than the median. In conclusion, IVS thickening was associated with long-term elevation of systolic BP. Therefore, it seems that IVS thickening is not merely a result of long-term BP elevation, but may predict the development of systolic hypertension.