Influence of left ventricular hypertrophy on heart period variability in patients with essential hypertension

Abstract

Considering that, when analysed over 24 h Holter recording, low- and high-frequency power both reflected the parasympathetic modulation of heart rate, the present results demonstrate a parasympathetic withdrawal in hypertension; this sympathovagal imbalance is greater in patients with cardiac hypertrophy and is related to the increase in left ventricular mass.