Study of the Relationship between Left Ventricular Mass and Arterial Stiffness in Aged Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the change of left ventricular mass and arterial stiffness in the aged patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods: The pulse wave velocity (PWV) and left ventricular mass index(LVMI)were used to estimate the left ventricular mass and arterial stiffness. The relationship between LVMI and PWV and other influencing factors were evaluated with univariate analysis and stepwise regressive analysis in 105 patients with diabetes mellitus. The value of PWV was compared in the subjects of the left ventricular hypertrophy and the non- left ventricular hypertrophy groups. Results: LVMI was positively correlated with PWV, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure,medical history and body mass index (the values of r were 0.821, 0.792, 0.799, 0.664 and 0.241 respectively,P 0.01 or P 0.05). A stepwise regression analysis was used to assess the combined influence of variables on left ventricular hypertrophy. The model included the following variables: PWV, systolic blood pressure and diabetes mellitus medical history. PWV value was significantly higher in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy than that of the patients without left ventricular hypertrophy (t = 9.109,P 0.01). Conclusion: The increased arterial stiffness is one of the important factors which lead to the increased left ventricular mass index in aged patients with diabetes mellitus.