The impact of diabetes on left ventricular diastolic function in patients with arterial hypertension

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to analyse the impact of diabetes mellitus on the left ventricular diastolic function in patients with arterial hypertension. METHODS Between July 2007 and July 2008, we enrolled patients aged ≥40 years who had hypertension with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus and unknown history of coronary artery disease who applied to 7.-8. internal medicine polyclinics of Goztepe Education and Training Hospital. Transthoracic echocardiography was used to assess the diastolic function. If patients with positive treadmill exercise test and/or EF ≤%50 in transthoracic echocardiography were excluded from the study. A total of 110 patients (males, n=42 38.2%, and females, n=68; 61.8%) with a mean age of 60.78 (±10.627) years were included in the study. For statistical analysis, SPSS 12.0 program and for the comparison of data chi-square test was used. RESULTS Diastolic dysfunction was significantly more prevalent in diabetes (81.25%) than those without diabetes group (62.9%) (p<0.05). In men, 35.9% in the DM(+) group and 41.1% in the DM(-) group had diastolic dysfunction. In women, 64.1% in the DM(+) group and 58.29% in the DM(-) group had diastolic dysfunction. In the evaluation based on gender, the difference male and female patients was not significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION Diabetes in association with hypertension has a negative effect on left ventricular diastolic function. This effect appears similar in men and women.