Markers of increased vascular risk in women with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (original) (raw)
Background. Diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension have important effects on vascular system and their major complications are caused by alterations of vasculature. These diseases are frequently associated. Beyond classical risk factors implicated in both diseases, in recent years some novel markers of vascular involvement have been studied, such as intima – media thickness (IMT) and parameters of arterial stiffness. Women seem to have an increased vascular risk associated with diabetes than do men. The aim of our study was to determine the consequences of hypertension associated with diabetes on intima media thickness and arterial stiffness in women. Patients and methods. We studied 54 women, 33 with diabetes mellitus and hypertension and 21 healthy controls (HC), matched for age. We evaluated classical risk factors for atherosclerosis, such as age, body mass index, smoking, lipid and glucose profile. We determined IMT of the carotid artery using an ultrasound device (ALOKA Pr...