OBJECTIVE

To study the features of left ventricle (LV) structural adjustment and comorbidity in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) based on gender.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 316 patients diagnosed with chronic cerebral ischemia with a mean age of 61.9 years (range 36 to 86 years). All patients underwent a general clinical examination, assessment of echocardiography parameters, and measurement of the thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA) intima-media complex (IMC). The patients were divided into two groups based on gender: Group I included males (n=170), and Group II included females (n=146).

RESULTS

In males with CCI, the CCA IMC thickness (1.23±0.14 mm vs 1.16±0.11 mm, p<0.05) and the prevalence of atherosclerotic changes (57.6% vs 34.9%, p<0.05) were significantly higher than in females. Normal LV geometry was reported in 59.4% of males and only in 37.0% of females (p<0.05). The frequency of concentric LV remodeling was 8.8% in males and 6.2% in females. LV hypertrophy (LVH) was detected in 31.8% of males and 56.8% of females (p<0.05). The concentric type of LVH was more common in males (68.5%), whereas the eccentric type prevailed in females (74.7%). A statistically significant correlation of CCA IMC thickness with age (r=0.234), systolic (r=0.209) and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.151), hemoglobin concentration (r=–0.245), end-systolic LV size (r=0.125), end-systolic (r=0.151) and end-diastolic (r=0.135) LV volumes, as well as LV myocardial mass index (r=0.132) in the total sample was found. In the male group, CCA IMC thickness correlated with body mass index (r=0.291) and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.210). In the female group, strong correlations were found with hemoglobin concentration (r=–0.732) and end-systolic LV volume (r=0.176).

CONCLUSION

In patients with CCI, the most common morphofunctional LV changes were concentric LVH in males and eccentric LVH in females.