Insulin effects on the left ventricle in older hypertensive subjects.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the effects of hyperinsulinemia on left ventricular (LV) structure and function in older hypertensive subjects


METHODS
Thirty-seven hypertensive subjects (17 men/20 women) aged 50 to 80, were studied. LV mass were evaluated echocardiographically according to the Penn convention. A 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed after overnight fasting, and both blood glucose and insulin concentrations were assayed at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 minutes. Comparison between groups was performed by analysis of variance. A P value of .05 was considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
When the hypertensive patients were divided into two groups according to the median value of 2-hour post-loading plasma insulin, there was no difference in blood pressure levels between the groups. However, hyperinsulinemic hypertensive subjects had an increased LV mass (P < .05), mean wall thickness, and interventricular septum thickness (P < .05 for both parameters) and had better systolic function-ejection and shortening fractions (P < .0001 for both indices).


CONCLUSIONS
Hyperinsulinemia may be associated with increased left ventricular mass and with a better systolic performance in older hypertensive subjects.
Scuteri
A
A
Cattedra Gerontologia e Geriatria, Universita La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Di Bernardo
M G
MG
De Propris
A M
AM
Marigliano
V
V
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin