In this primary clinical research diagnostic study, we enrolled 70 patients with systemic  hypertension presenting with shortness of breath between May 2010 to July 2010 to Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain. Forty-eight patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. They underwent extensive echocardiographic assessment of their diastolic function with simultaneous NT pro-B-type natriuretic (BNP) assay. The latter being the reference marker of diastolic defragment.