Arterial hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

In an attempt to evaluate the prevalence of Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH), Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) as well as their association with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, 204 patients were studied at Hospital Universitário Alcides Carneiro (HUAC) at Universidade Federal de Campina Grande - PB. The group's average age was 58.0±11.4 years, and 64.2% (n=131/204) were female. SAH was observed in 66.7% (n=136/204) of the group, and it been found more often in women (69.5%), in white people and former smokers. A statistically significant association was found between SAH and age (p<0.0001), diabetes evolution time (p<0.015), smoking (p<0.009) and enlargement of abdominal circumference (p<0.008). LVH was found in 11.3% (23/204) of the patients analyzed by electrocardiogram (ECG). The echocardiogram performed in 23.0% (47/204) of patients of the same group showed a LVH prevalence of 76.6% (36/47). Although it was found a higher incidence of LVH in hypertensives (85.2%) than in patients with normal blood pressure (65.0%), no statistical correlation was found among those variables in the group studied. As a conclusion, the prevalence of SAH was 66.7% in the group studied. A correlation between SAH and age, evolution time of diabetes, enlargement of abdominal circumference, and smoking was found. There was also a high prevalence of LVH (76.6%) when analyzed through echocardiogram, although, no correlation was found between SAH and LVH