Obesity and diabetes mellitus and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with arterial hypertension

Background The aim of this study was to assess the influence of obesity and diabetes mellitus on left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with arterial hypertension. Material and methods Study population consisted of 554 patients with hypertension (62% men, 38% women), and 97 patients with hypertension and concomitant diabetes mellitus (DM) (61% men, 39% women). The mean age in these two groups was 53 +/- 13 years v. 58 +/- 8 years respectively. We performed echocardiography as well as blood pressure (twice) and waist and hip circumference measurements. Body mass index (BMI) was assessed. Results Left ventricular mass (LVM) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were significantly higher in the group with hypertension and concomitant DM than in the group without DM, LVM 280.6 +/- 67.4 g v. 247.3 +/- 74.8 g, p < 0.0001, LVMI 145.2 +/- 33 g/m(2) v. 129.9 +/- 36 g/m', p < 0.0001. In patients with hypertension without DM, BMI positively correlated with LVMI (r = 0.17, p < 0,0001) in men and in women. Waist/hip ratio positively correlated with LVMI in women (r = 0.26, p < 0.0001). In the group of patients with concomitant DM, BMI and waist/hip ratio didn't correlate with left ventricular hypertrophy. Conclusions Higher body mass index and abdominal obesity in women are risk factors for left ventricular hypertrophy. Left ventricular hypertrophy is more prevalent in the group with concomitant DM.