OBJECTIVETo investigate the intima-media thickness and cardiac remodeling in patients with prehypertension and impaired glucose tolerance.

METHODThree-hundred patients were divided into four groups: normal control (NC, n = 61), prehypertension (PH, n = 83), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT, n = 91), prehypertension and impaired glucose tolerance (PH + IGT, n = 65). Intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured by doppler ultrasonography. Left ventricle mess (LVMI), midwall fractional shortening (mFS), peakE/peakA (E/A) were measured by echocardiography.

RESULTS(1) IMT was significantly increased in PH, IGT and PH + IGT groups than in NC group [(0.7 ± 0.1) mm, (0.7 ± 0.1) mm and (1.0 ± 0.1) mm vs.(0.6 ± 0.1) mm, all P < 0.01], which was significantly high in PH + IGT group than in PH or IGT group. Regression analysis demonstrated that high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2hPBG), systolic pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were independent predictors to increased IMT. (2) LVMI was higher in PH and PH + IGT groups than in NC group [(97.0 ± 3.3) g/m(2), (97.1 ± 2.8) g/m(2) vs.(87.0 ± 2.0) g/m(2), (87.9 ± 1.5) g/m(2), all P < 0.01], and positively related with SBP, DBP. (3) mFS was lower in PH and PH + IGT groups [(14.0 ± 0.8)%, (14.0 ± 0.8)% vs. (18.3 ± 1.0)%, (18.2 ± 0.5)%, P < 0.01], negatively related with SBP and DBP. E/A was similar among groups and lower E/A was associated with higher SBP.

CONCLUSIONVascular and left ventricular structure remodeling and systolic dysfunction could be detected in prehypertension patients. Impaired glucose tolerance could enhance vascular remodeling in prehypertension patients.