Metabolic Profile of Subjects With Naive Isolated Systolic Hypertension

Abstract

Objective: Even though hypertension is an important contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD), and its treatment has established mortality benefits, uncertainty lies in the management of isolated systolic hypertension (ISH). Although the association of ISH with CVD and mortality has been established, the metabolic characteristics of this population have not been adequately described. The aim of this study was to describe the metabolic profiles of patients with isolated systolic hypertension. Design and method: An observational study of patients attending the Hypertension Unit of the University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece, was performed. Results: In total, 809 hypertensive patients not on any anti-hypertensive treatment were identified. Among them, 44.7% were men; age was 55.6±12.5years, while 29.7% were smokers. Systolic blood pressure was 161.3±15.8mmHg and diastolic blood pressure was 96.1±11.3mmHg. Body mass index (BMI) was 31±5.3kg/m2, while 9.6% had type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). A comparison of subjects with ISH with the rest hypertensives, revealed that persons with ISH were older, had lower SBP and higher pulse pressure, while they also had lower total cholesterol and LDL, and were more likely to have DM even though they had a slightly lower BMI. On the other hand, they did not have any difference in terms of gender, smoking status, HDL, triglycerides, liver biochemistry, uric acid or prevalence of impaired fasting glucose. Conclusions: Subjects with ISH were older, with lower SBP, total cholesterol and LDL and higher pulse pressure and higher prevalence of DM.