Accumulation of the risk factors of atherosclerosis in type-II diabetics with hypertension.

Abstract

The incidence of arterial hypertension and some clinical and biochemical parameters were followed in relation to hypertension in a group of 156 hospitalized Type-II diabetics. A significant correlation was demonstrated between the values of systolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels (r = 0.30, p less than 0.001), between systolic blood pressure and diabetes duration, and between systolic blood pressure and triglyceride levels in all our patients. Similarly, a significant correlation was found between diastolic blood pressure and the levels of cholesterol (r = 0.27, p less than 0.001), triglycerides and urea. Hypertension was diagnosed in 65% of the group of hospitalized diabetics. Hypertensive diabetics showed a significantly higher proportion of women and a higher mean cholesterol level (6.1 +/- 2.2 mmol/l) compared with the group of diabetics free of hypertension (4.8 +/- 1.4 mmol/l), with the same mean age, diabetes duration and weight. Of the complications of diabetes, the hypertensive group, compared with the control group, were found to have only a significantly higher incidence of cerebrovascular events (31% vs 6%, respectively). The incidence of myocardial infarction and proteinuria were only insignificantly higher in the hypertensive group. We can conclude, on the basis of our results, that the risk factors of atherosclerosis (hypertension, cholesterol, triglycerides) accumulate in the group of Type-II diabetics. This is apparently due to hyperinsulinaemia often present in Type-II diabetics with impaired glucose tolerance. Another factor possibly contributing to the increased incidence of hypertension is the increase in blood viscosity in hyperlipoproteinaemia.