Body mass index as a determinant for metabolic-related changes in resistant hypertension

Resumo

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a common feature of resistant arterial hypertension (RHTN) and it is considered a strong risk factor for the lack of blood pressure control. Moreover, increased aldosterone levels have been associated with impaired glucose metabolism and may interact with adipose tissue deregulating inflammatory adipokines such as leptin. This study aimed to verify the influence of obesity in aldosterone and leptin plasma levels as well as in markers of glucose metabolism in RHTN subjects. METHODS: Ninetyone resistant hypertensive patients were divided into two subgroups by the mean body mass index (BMI): (i) a more obese (OBS, N=41, BMI>31.5kg/m2) and (ii) a leaner group (LNR, N=50, BMI<31.5kg/m2). We determined body composition by bioimpedance (BIA 450). Fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as well as aldosterone (radioimmunoassay) and leptin (enzyme immunoassay) levels were also evaluated. RESULTS: OBS subgroup showed altered glucose metabolism by fasting glucose (129±48 vs. 107±32mg/dL, p=0.04) and glycated hemoglobin (7.6±2.3 vs. 6.8±1.9%, p=0.03). Plasma aldosterone (137.9±102.0 vs. 92.6±67.9pg/ml, p=0.03) as well as leptin levels (24.4±17.2 vs. 36.4±23.5ng/ml, p=0.01) were also higher in OBS compared with LNR group. Multiple linear regression indicated that glucose level is independently associated with obesity in RHTN patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that a greater body mass index may be determinant for deregulating glucose metabolism as well as aldosterone and leptin levels in resistant hypertensive subjects.