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The aim of the study was to analyse the heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with moderate essential hypertension complicated by left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Forty-two patients with untreated essential hypertension participated in the study group and 45 normotensives (16M, 29F, age 49.8 +/- 5.6 years) served as the controls. The hypertensives were divided into those with LVH (n = 25, 10M, 15F, age 50.1 +/- 5.9 years) and those without LVH (n = 17, 4M, 13F, age 52.0 +/- 3.4 years). HRV was recorded and analysed using the CardioPSA System, Medatec. In each subject, 30 min. of ECG recording was obtained: 15 min. in the supine, position and 15 min. in the upright position. Fast Fourier transform was used to analyse total power, low frequency (LF, 0.04-0.15 Hz) and high frequency components (HF, 0.15-0.40 Hz). Left ventricular mass was calculated from echocardiograms using the Deveraux formula. LVH was defined as a left ventricular mass index (LVM) > 134 g/m2 for men and > 110 g/m2 for women. A T-test was used to test for nter-group differences: p < 0.05 was considered as significant. In hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy, we observed decreased values of HF component, both in supine and upright positions, as compared to hypertensives without LVH. Components of HRV did not differ between the hypertensives without LVH and the normotensives. In hypertensives with a LVH the high frequency component of HRV was decreased, indicating impaired para-sympathetic activity.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was the assessment of power spectrum of heart rate variability in young people with family history of hypertension. The study included healthy subjects in their second or third decade of their life. According to the family history of hypertension, the following groups were specified: group A--both parents hypertensive (n = 30, age = 24.5 +/- 4.0 years), group B--only one parent hypertensive (n = 94, age = 24.1 +/- 5.1 years) and group C--both parents normotensive (n = 35, age = 25.9 +/- 7.4 years)., Methods: HRV analysis was performed using CardioPSA System, Medatec, Belgium. In every person, 30 minute ECG was assessed: 15 min.lying, 15 min standing. For data analysis Fast Fourier transform was used, total variability, LF (0.04-0.15 Hz) and HF (0.15-0.40, Hz) components were calculated. We observed similar values of HRV components in all groups. Subjects with family history of hypertension showed however a tendency towards higher LF values in lying position. Standing caused in all groups decrease of total variability, increase of LF component and decrease of HF component. Changes were less pronounced in subjects with both parents hypertensive. Young adults with both parents hypertensive have shown a tendency towards higher values of LF component and less pronounced changes of HRV components after standing up.