Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is the most important element of cardiovascular continuum in patients with essential hypertension (EH). The results of a five-year retrospective analysis of EH patients cohort with initially different types of left ventricular geometry (491 subjects) are presented. It is shown that the overall mortality in patients with concentric and eccentric LVH does not differ significantly (37 and 35 %, respectively) but exceeds that in subjects with normal LV geometry (20 %). Associated and concomitant pathology determine the total and cardiovascular prognosis more in patients with concentric LVH than in subjects with eccentric LVH. The presence of ECG valid quantitative and strain diagnostic LVH criteria (Sokolow-Lyon index and Perugian university sign) determines the worst remote prognosis in patients with both concentric and eccentric LVH. The enlarged size of the left atrium is an universal marker of poor outcome in hypertensive patients regardless the type оf left ventricular geometry.

Fifty-seven patients with grade 1 essential hypertension concurrent with chronic obstructive bronchitis or bronchial asthma were examined. They were found to have characteristics of the daily blood pressure profile, such as a high load due to pressure and its inadequate nocturnal lowering. The concentric type of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is typical of the vast majority of persons of this category. The patients with a high LVH concentricity have more significant imbalance of autonomic cardiac rhythm regulation with the preponderance of myocardial sympathetic impact while those with low LVH concentricity showed higher aldosterone secretion.

The reviewed data concerning modern performance about the changes of left atrium in hypertension are cited in the paper. Haemodynamic, neurohumoral, molecular, electrophysiologic pathogenic factors of left atrium structural and functional remodeling in this disease are discussed. Changes of left atrium as hypertensive target organ presents an essential (and as a rule the earliest) sign of cardiovascular continuum.

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Elderly age and dyslipidemia are known high risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The article focuses on the evidence of statin benefits in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular complications in very elderly subjects. Importance of the achievement of target lipid levels regardless the age and possibilities of combined lipidlowering therapy in elderly patients are demonstrated. Some aspects of statin safety in elderly subjects are highlighted in the paper.