Editorial Comment: Influence of left ventricular type on QT interval in hypertensive patients

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common cardiac adaptation for the increased afterload seen in patients with systemic hypertension. It is a strong risk factor for congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular mortality, including sudden death, independent of blood pressure (1-3). However, a large portion of deaths in patients with LVH can be sudden, likely due to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) leading to ventricular fibrillation (3, 4). LVH can increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmogenesis by several mechanisms, including dilatation of the ventricle, stress of the subendocardium, and impaired coronary reserve. Regression of ventricular hypertrophy has been found to be associated with decreased prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias.