A study of the influence of insulin resistance on left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients

To study the influence of insulin resistance on the left ventricular mass in hypertensive subjects.

Thirty patients having uncomplicated essential hypertension were included in the study. Post-oral glucose load serum insulin level (2 hrs) was determined and this was used as a marker for insulin resistance. Two D-echocardiography was performed and left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index were calculated.

Out of the 30 patients 18 were males and 12 were females. Eight were obese while the remaining 22 were non-obese. The patients were 27 to 70 years old. The mean age, height and weight were 54.83 +/- 9.46 years, 159.07 +/- 8.81 cm and 58.38 +/- 11.03 kg, respectively. The post oral glucose load serum insulin levels in the study ranged from 57.65 to 210.81 microU/ml. The left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index ranged from 42.58 to 310.8 g (mean 196.60 +/- 65.13 g) and 42.74 to 185.59 g/m2 (mean 118.71 +/- 37.75 g/m2), respectively. The correlation coefficient ('r' value) between post oral glucose load serum insulin levels and left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index were calculated.

A strong positive correlation was observed between the post oral glucose load serum insulin levels and left ventricular mass ('r' = +0.750). A strong positive correlation between post oral glucose load serum insulin levels and left ventricular mass index ('r' = +0.757) was also observed. These correlations were found to be statistically highly significant (p < 0.01). This association was demonstrated independently of age, anthropometric measurements, systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels. Thus, in patients with essential hypertension, hyperinsulinemia (insulin resistance) has a role in promoting left ventricular hypertrophy.