The subjects for this study consist of 72 hospitalized hypertensive patients including 38 males and 34 females.

The measurements of the systolic time intervals were obtained from simultaneous high speed recording(100mm/sec) of an electrocardiographic lead best displaying the onset of left ventricular depolarization, a carotid pulse tracing, and a phonocardiogram best displaying the initial high frequency vibrations of the aortic valve closure sound.

All data were corrected for heart rate and sex using the regression equations of Weissleretal.

The results were follows:

1) As the diastolic blood pressure increased, shortening of left ventricular ejection time index and prolongation of preejection period index and PEP/LVET ratio were significant.

2) As the electrocardiographic findings related to hypertension became severe shortening of left ventricular ejection time index and prolongation of preejection period index and PEP/LVET ratio were significant.

3) As the hypertensive retinopathy became severe, shortening of left ventricular ejection time index and prolongation of preejection period index and PEP/LVET ratio were significant.

It was suggested that the measurement of the systolic time intervals are useful in assessing the effects of hypertension upon the left ventricular function and in detecting early recognition of cardiac dysfunction in hypertension, even though not necessarily associated with overt heart failure.