Prevalence of episodes of ST-segment depression among mild-to-moderate hypertensive patients in northern Italy

Abstract

Our results show that 15% of patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension, who are free of clinical signs of coronary artery disease, experience episodes of ST-segment depression during Holter monitoring or exercise stress testing. Most of these episodes are asymptomatic and are not associated with the severity of hypertension, the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy, and other risk factors for coronary artery disease. Episodes of ST-segment depression are more common for women than they are for men, particularly during Holter monitoring. The early detection of silent myocardial ischemia by Holter monitoring or by the exercise stress test might be useful for the identification of hypertensive patients who should be investigated further and administered a more specific treatment.