Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in non-diabetic heart failure patients: A case-control investigation at tertiary care Hospitals of Karachi.

eart failure is a progressive, chronic disorder. Insulin resistance (IR) has been more and more involved as a preliminary metabolic perturbance predisposing to hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis with others heart diseases. To investigate the relation of insulin resistance (IR) in non-diabetic heart failure patients this case-control study was carried out to ascertain the presence of IR with the aid of Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) in non-diabetic heart failure patients (NDHF patients) compared with healthy controls. The sample size was calculated for both, cases (NDHF patients) and control (healthy subjects), which was initially consisted of 113 respondents each. The study consisted of two phase duration. In Phase I, NDHF patients were approached initially; only 80 patients with NDHF completed the study procedure. In Phase II, 80 healthy subjects were targeted and matched. Fasting blood glucose level (FBGL) and serum insulin was estimated. Mathematical model to quantify β-cell function and insulin resistance was also computed through Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) in both groups. Data was analyzed on SPSS version 16. Mean values with ± standard deviation (SD) of insulin (10.2±4.36) and HOMA-IR (2.52±1.15) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in NDHF patients as compared to control subject (6.4±3.39, 1.45±0.80). Average insulin to glucose ratio was 0.10±0.044 in NDHF patients which was significantly (p<0.0001) lowered in controls i.e., 0.073±0.039. Marginal and matrix plot analysis revealed that a higher patients count have had the HOMA-IR values <1.5 units while opposite scenario was observed in control group. Regression analyses of HOMA-IR with FBGL (as independent indicator) also authenticate the similar pattern. The present study concludes that insulin resistance (decreased insulin sensitivity) is a characteristic finding in Pakistani population of heart failure as compared to matched healthy controls.