Hypertension and alterations in left ventricular structure and geometry in African Americans: the Jackson Heart Study

African Americans (AAs) have an increased risk for hypertension-related cardiovascular outcomes compared with whites, which may be related to abnormal left ventricular (LV) structure. We examined the association of prevalent hypertension with concentric remodeling (CR; normal LV mass index [LVMI] and increased relative wall thickness [RWT]), eccentric hypertrophy (increased LVMI and normal RWT), and concentric hypertrophy (CH; increased LVMI and increased RWT) within the Jackson Heart Study. Among 4721 participants (mean ± SD, age 55.7 ± 12.7 years), 2841 (60.2%) had prevalent hypertension, defined as mean clinic blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg or antihypertensive medication use. Prevalent hypertension was associated with a statistically significantly increased odds for having CR (odds ratio [OR] = 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.42-2.24), eccentric hypertrophy (OR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.15-2.44), and CH (OR = 3.86, 95% CI = 2.28-6.54) after multivariable adjustment. In conclusion, in a population-based sample of AAs, hypertension was associated with increased odds for having abnormal LV structure, particularly CH.