Assessment of left ventricular ejection force and sympathetic skin response in normotensive and hypertensive subjects: A double-blind observational comparative case–control study

AbstractBackgroundPathophysiology of essential hypertension remains obscure. Correlation among ventricular ejection force, sympathetic activity, and hypertension is less clearly narrated in hypertensive subjects.Aims and objectivesTo assess correlation among ventricular ejection force, sympathetic activity, and hypertension in hypertensive subjects, and to be compared with normotensive subjects.MethodsThis is a case–control study to assess left ventricular ejection force (LVEF) and sympathetic skin response, in normotensive (group 1; control), and hypertensive subjects (group 2; cases). 100 cases were selected. Subjects having stages 1 and 2 hypertension were categorized in groups 2A and 2B, respectively. LVEF was calculated by using echocardiography observing aortic acceleration time (AT) and peak systolic velocity. Comparison among groups was done by using one-way ANOVA.ResultsBoth groups were comparable. In group 2, 60 cases had stage 1 hypertension and 40 had stage 2 hypertension. Significantly short AT and significantly high LVEF were found in hypertension (groups 2A and 2B) (p<0.0001). Sympathetic activity was high in group 2A (p<0.0001). Stroke volume (SV) was high in group 2B (p