Study population
A single-center retrospective analysis of echocardiographic data obtained between September 1st 2015 and December 31st 2018 was performed. Data were collected on elderly outpatients with hypertension (≥65 years) who underwent echocardiography using Profound F 75 Premier (Hitachi Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) (N=105). Hypertension was defined as BP≥140/90 mmHg or the use of antihypertensive medication. Exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) atrial fibrillation at the time of echocardiography, (2) severe valvular diseases, (3) local LV wall motion abnormalities, (4) current decompensated HF, (5) a history of myocardial infarction, and (6) a history of cardiac surgery. The present study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital (R18-44). Informed consent was not obtained from patients because this was a retrospective analysis of conventional clinical practice data; therefore, information on the opt-out policy was provided on the hospital website.