Type 2 diabetes is associated with left ventricular concentric remodeling in hypertensive patients

Background Left ventricular (LV) geometric remodeling is associated with cardiovascular prognosis in hypertensive patients. It is uncertain how LV remodeling is modulated by diabetes in hypertensive patients. In this study, we investigated the impact of diabetes and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) on LV geometric remodeling in hyptensives with/without diabetes. Methods Ambulatory BP monitoring and echocardiography were performed to compare 24-h BP levels and LV measurements in 400 uncomplicated hypertensives (mean age, 67 years, 152 men and 248 women) between diabetic (n = 161) and nondiabetic (n = 239) patients. Results The age (67 v 68 years), percentage of men (43% v 34%), body mass index (24.5 v 24.0 kg/m2), 24-h systolic BP (144/80 v 144/82 mm Hg), LV mass index (128 v 130 g/m2) were similar between the groups. Diabetic patients had higher relative wall thickness (0.50 v 0.44, P< .001) and higher prevalence of concentric LV hypertrophy (39.4% v 26.8%, P< .001) than nondiabetic patients. The presence of diabetes (odds ratio [OR] = 2.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.73–4.41, P< .001) and 24-h systolic BP (OR for 10 mm Hg increase = 1.17; 95% CI = 1.01–1.37, P< .05) were independently associated with the higher relative wall thickness (≥0.45). On the other hand, 24-h systolic BP was independently associated with LV hypertrophy (OR for 10 mm Hg increase = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.14–1.52, P< .05). Conclusions Among hypertensive patients, type 2 diabetes was associated with concentric LV geometry independent of ambulatory BP.