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.