Morphological and functional status of heart and large arteries in young individuals with unstable blood pressure

Abstract

Aim. To investigate morphological and volumetric parameters of left and right heart and large arteries in young individuals with stable normal blood pressure (StNBP) and unstable BP (UnStBP). Material and methods. We examined 76 students aged 19–24 (mean age 19,9±0,9 years). All participants were divided into Group 1 (28 people with StNBP) and Group 2 (48 people with UnStBP). Both groups underwent echocardiography and duplex ultrasound of large arteries. Results. Young individuals with UnStBP, compared to their peers with StNBP, demonstrated higher linear and volume atrial and ventricular sizes, as well as higher left and right ventricular stroke volumes. All morphological and functional changes were more pronounced for the right ventriculum. Participants with UnStBP were characterised by a 25% increase in minute volume, primarily due to increased circulating volume. In individuals with Stage 1 arterial hypertension, left and right ventricular remodelling and hemodynamic disturbances were more pronounced, and minute volume was reduced (by 36%, compared to people with StNBP), with reduced inotropic reserve and increased chronotropic reserve. In UnStBP, blood flow was redistributed and increased in the brachiocephalic region, mostly due to increased circulating volume and decreased blood flow volume in femoral arteries. Conclusion. The pathogenesis of BP elevation in young people involves the increase in circulating volume, brachiocephalic blood flow, and cardiac preload. In parallel to the BP elevation, morphological and functional grounds for heart failure are developing.

Keywords

• young age
• arterial hypertension
• cardiac hemodynamics
• large arteries