METABOLIC CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS AND THE RENIN-ALDOSTERONE SYSTEM IN ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

Impairment of glucose and lipid metabolism is common in hypertensive s ubjects. In the present study the relationships between indices of lip id and glucose metabolism and the renin-aldosterone system were studie d in 37 untreated hypertensive subjects (DBP > 95 mmHg). Fasting insul in and the early insulin response at an intravenous glucose tolerance test were both correlated to plasma renin activity (r = 0.48, P < 0.00 3 and r = 0.55, P < 0.002, respectively) while HDL-cholesterol was fou nd to be inversely related to the urinary excretion of aldosterone (r = 0.35, P < 0.03). These relations were still significant when influen ces of age, sex, obesity (BMI) and serum creatinine were taken into ac count in the multiple regression analysis. In conclusion, hyperinsulin aemia and low levels of HDL-cholesterol were found in hypertensive sub jects with a high activity of the renin-aldosterone system and might e xplain the high incidence of cardiovascular diseases found in this gro up.