[Does accompanying metabolic syndrome contribute to heart dimensions in hypertensive patients?].
OBJECTIVE
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events. We evaluated heart dimensions in hypertensive patients with MetS.


METHODS
The study included 75 hypertensive patients (34 males, 41 females; mean age 51+/-9 years) without coronary artery disease. Patients were evaluated in two groups depending on the presence or absence of MetS. Age- and gender-matched 20 healthy subjects (9 males, 11 females; mean age 50+/-5 years) comprised the control group. The diagnosis of MetS was based on the presence of at least three of five MetS criteria. Hypertension was defined as arterial blood pressure exceeding 140/85 mmHg on three consecutive measurements or the use of antihypertensive drugs. Echocardiographic measurements included interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular internal diameter, posterior wall thickness, aortic diameter, left atrial diameter, relative wall thickness, and left ventricular mass.


RESULTS
Metabolic syndrome was present in 32 hypertensive patients (42.7%; 18 males, 14 females). The mean number of MetS criteria was 2.6+/-1.0 in the hypertensive group. Compared to the control group, patients with or without MetS exhibited significantly increased interventricular septum and posterior wall thickness, left atrial diameter, relative wall thickness, and left ventricular mass (p<0.05). The only significant difference between the two patient groups was that MetS was associated with a greater left atrial diameter (p=0.019). Left atrial diameter was correlated with the number of MetS criteria (r=0.51; p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Left ventricular dimensions are not influenced by MetS. Rather than MetS, hypertension is primarily responsible for changes in left ventricular dimensions. However, left atrial enlargement is more prominent in patients with MetS, suggesting that each MetS criterion contributes to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.
Uzun
Mehmet
M
Department of Cardiology, Haydarpaşa Training Hospital, Gülhane Military Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey.
Köz
Cem
C
Yildirim
Mustafa
M
Kirilmaz
Ata
A
Yokuşoğlu
Mehmet
M
Kiliçaslan
Fethi
F
Ulusoy
Eralp
E
Baysan
Oben
O
Sağ
Cemal
C
Cebeci
Bekir Sitki
BS
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling