Effects of Gender and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on left Ventricular Structure in a Group of Hypertensive Patients in Erbil-Iraq

Abstract

Background: The effects of diabetes mellitus and gender on left ventricular structure in hypertension are still controversial. Objective: To evaluate the effects of diabetes mellitus and gender on left ventricular structure in a sample of hypertensive patients in Erbil-Iraq. Patients and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Rizgary hospital, Erbil- Iraq, between April 2015 and April 2016. A convenient sample of 200 patients (100 males and 100 females), aged ≥18 years were enrolled. Half of the sample (Group I) had diabetes in addition to hypertension, while the other half (Group II) had hypertension only. The effects of diabetes mellitus and gender on left ventricular structure were evaluated in both groups. Results: In Group I, left ventricular diastolic and systolic dimensions were significantly higher among male patients (P=0.023, 0.022 respectively) than female patients. In group II , the mean thickness of posterior wall , left ventricular mass , left ventricular mass index and relative wall thickness was significantly higher among male patients (P=0.004, 0.016, 0.035 and 0.045 respectively) than female patients. The mean thickness of interventricular septum, posterior wall and relative wall thickness (P=0.0013, 0.007 and 0.003 respectively) was significantly higher in diabetic females than non-diabetic females. No significant differences were found between diabetic and non-diabetic males. Conclusion: There is an obvious effect of gender and diabetes on left ventricular structure. In the hypertensive non-diabetic group, the left ventricular structural changes were significantly seen among male patients than females. In contrary, these changes were significantly seen in diabetic females than non-diabetic females.