Clinical Trial in Patients With Hypertension and Left Ventricular Dysfunction

Arterial hypertension causes adverse effects on the entire cardiovascular system, with effects centrally such as diastolic dysfunction and structural changes of the left ventricle and, peripherally such as endothelial dysfunction and increased thickness of the vessels. Co-existing diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, renal dysfunction, sleep apnea, etc. further aggravate the prognosis of these patients. In addition the rate of patients aged \> 65 years suffering from un-diagnosed or diagnosed arterial hypertension was 78% for women and 64% for male patients. This population consists from elderly or very elderly patients (over 65 and 80 years respectively) who exhibit more comorbidities and probably less compliance with antihypertensive therapy. Finally, at every age the disease and its effects can affect the quality of life of patients. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of antihypertensive therapy (irbesartan alone or in combination with amplodipine and carvedilol) on the cardiovascular system (diastolic left ventricular function, the function of the endothelium (FMD) and the thickness of the common carotid artery). The secondary objective of the study is to monitor the quality of life (Quality of Life - QoL) of patients. Additionally the investigators will seek the correlation of results with co-morbidities, compliance, and patient age.

The scope of this entire study is to examine the patients as follows:: Complete Echocardiographic Study including the index of left ventricular mass and relative wall thickness (RWT), measurement acquired from left parasternal longitudinal axis. Further assessment will be diastolic function and filling pressures of the left ventricle using all indices of diastolic function that can be applied in patients with preserved ejection fraction according to the relevant guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology . This will include the tissue velocities of the mitral annulus (lateral, septal and average) and the ratio of early diastolic transmitral speed to early diastolic mitral annulus velocity. The flow of the right upper pulmonary vein , will be recorded during the reverse wave. The flow in pulmonary veins (average of 3 different measurements) will be recorded additionally. The transmitral A wave duration will also be measured, with the Pulsed Doppler sample volume placed at the level of the mitral annulus (average of 3 different measures). The time difference between the Ar-A (reverse pulmonary venous - transmitral flow A wave) will be calculated . The percentage change of E/A ratio with Valsalva will only be calculated in those patients who perform a substantial Valsalva manoeuvre, as an absolute decrease of E wave at least 20 cm / s. Left atrial volume index (LAVI) and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) will also be estimated. Besides left ventricular diastolic function and filling pressures, investigators will also estimate the diameter of the ascending aorta and aortic arch (absolute values and indexed for body surface area). The study of the endothelial function will be done by the method of flow-mediated dilatation of the right brachial artery by estimating the FMD. Intima-media thickness of common carotic arteries will also be performed. Quality of life and level of emotional stress- depression will be assessed with the use of specific questionnaires (EQ-5D questionnaires, Short Form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)). Patient compliance with antihypertensive treatment will be assessed with the following questionnaires : Brief Medication Questionnaire 1 (BDQ1), Morisky 8-item Medication Adherence Questionnaire. Additional evaluations will assess co-morbidities in each patient, taking a detailed medical history during the initial diagnostic examination (obstructive sleep apnea , diabetes and glycosylated hemoglobin calculation HbA1 , renal impairment by calculating creatinine clearance , etc.) After 'three months' follow-up investigators will evaluate the efficacy of therapy in the regulation of hypertension for all patients. Baseline evaluations will be repeated at three months * complete echocardiographic assessment * diastolic left ventricular dysfunction * patients compliance with treatment. Investigators will seek correlations with co-morbidities and patient's age. * diastolic left ventricular dysfunction * RWT, * Left ventricular mass index, * LAVI, RVSP, * Ascending Aorta, * Aortic Arch, * FMD, * IMT, * QoL, * emotional stress, * compliance between the two groups, and will seek correlations with co-morbidities and patient age.