Confiabilidad de un monitor automatizado para la medición de la presión arterial / Reliability of an automatic monitor for blood pressure measurement

Background A correct blood pressure (BP) measurement is essential for the diagnosis and control of high BP. Aim: To evaluate the agreement and repeatability of BP measurements with the OMRON HEM-7320-LA device compared to a mercury sphygmomanometer. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study comparing BP measurements made by two randomly selected trained nurses and an automatic oscillometric device. The mercurial sphygmomanometer was connected to the automated device via a "T" type connector and a dual-head stethoscope was used, allowing simultaneous measurements. The results were analyzed with one-factor analysis of variance, Bland-Altman's test, repeatability coefficient (RC), and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Forty-nine participants aged 56 ± 19 years were included. Nineteen had hypertension (38%). We did not observe a significant difference in either systolic (SBP) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) pressure measurements between the observers and the device. The mean difference was −0.09 mmHg (95% confidence intervals (CI)-0.9 to 0.7) for SBP and −0.9 mmHg (95% CI −1.7 to −0.13) for DBP. The RC for SBP (6.2, 5.2 and 5.8 mmHg) and DBP (4.7, 4.2 y 5.2 mmHg) was similar between the observers and the device. The ICC for SBP was 0.990 (95% CI 0.983 to 0.995, p < 0.01) and 0.986 (95% CI 0.977 to 0.991, p < 0.01) for DBP. Conclusions: There was a high level of agreement and similar measurement repeatability in the measurements performed by the automatic device and the mercurial sphygmomanometer. No differences in BP measurements were observed.

Impacto de la hiperinsulinemia sobre la función del ventrículo izquierdo en sujetos hipertensos / Differential impact of hyperinsulinemia on left ventricular function in hypertense subjects

Introducción: La hiperinsulinemia asociada a hipertensión arterial activa el proceso inflamatorio/reparador y deteriora la función ventricular. Objetivo: Determinar los efectos de la hiperinsulinemia sobre la masa la ventricular y función diastólica del ventrículo izquierdo (VI) en hombres y mujeres no diabéticos con hipertensión. Método: 52 pacientes con curva de tolerancia a la glucosa normal fueron estratificados según la relación glucosa/insulina (rG/I): Grupo 1, hiperinsulinémico (rG/I < 1.6); Grupo 2, normoinsulinémico (rG/I > 1.6). Se realizó historia clínica, análisis de laboratorio, ECG y ecografía Doppler cardíaca. Resultados: En condición basal no hubo diferencias entre los grupos en cuanto a edad, valores de glucemia y presión arterial, pero sí en los de insulina (32.5 vs. 8.78 mU/ml), masa ventricular (131.6 vs. 92.7 g/m2), fracción de eyección del VI (73.5 vs. 69.3%), índice de masa corporal (31.2 vs. 29 kg/m2), relación E/A mitral (0.92 vs. 1.35), tiempo de relajación isovolumétrica del VI (126.3 61 ms) y tiempo de hemipresión transmitral (T1/ 2; 206 vs. 244.4 ms). En las mujeres hiperinsulinémicas se incrementaron más los niveles de insulina a 60' que en los hombres (12.5 vs. 6.7 veces), rG/I de 0.54 vs. 0.99, masa ventricular (61.4 vs. 30.7%), disfunción diastólica del VI (E/A 0.87 vs. 0.93 y T1/2; 191.7 vs. 220.3 ms). Conclusión: La hiperinsulinemia incrementa la masa ventricular y deteriora la función diastólica del VI en pacientes hipertensos no diabéticos, con mayor gravedad en las mujeres.

Relación entre hiperinsulinemia, disfunción diastólica e hipertrofia del ventrículo izquierdo en pacientes con hipertensión arterial sistémica / Association of hyperinsulinemia with left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction in patients with hypertension

Background: Hypertension is the main independent cardiovascular risk factor. However, there are additional factors that induce organic damage. Aim: To assess the association between hyperinsulinemia, ventricular hypertrophy and left ventricular diastolic function. Patients and Methods: Seventy-four patients aged 30 to 65 years, with mild or moderate systemic hypertension, with overweight or mild obesity and normal glucose tolerance curve (GTC), were studied. Serum insulin was measured during GTC. The maximum levels of insulin and glucose were observed 60 minutes after the oral glucose load and they were expressed as rG/1. Patients were stratified in three groups according to their glucose and insulin fasting levels (I0) and post-glucose challenge levels (rG/I): Group 1 (normoinsulinemic patients) I0 <17 mU/mL and rG/I >2 (2.45+0.4). Group 2 (post-prandial hyperinsulinemic patients) I0 <17 mU/mL and rG/I <2> 1 (1.34+0.3). Group 3 (persistently hyperinsulinemic patients) I0 >17 mU/mL and <1 (0.7+0.3). Left ventricular mass and its diastolic function were measured by Doppler echocardiography. Results: No differences in blood pressure or age were observed between groups. There was a negative correlation between ventricular mass and rG/1 (r =-0.282, p =0.015). Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was significantly more deteriorated in group 3, as compared with group 1 (p <0.001 ANOVA). There was a significant correlation between g/GI and diastolic dysfunction (r =0.232 p =0.047). Conclusions: Fasting, post challenge hyperinsulinemia and a rG/I <1 are associated with higher ventricular mass and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, independent of blood pressure and age.