[Diabetes Infobus 1999. Blood pressure]

Abstract

In comparison to non-diabetic normotensive control subjects, hypertensive diabetic patients have a four-fold increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Additional to WHO/IHS definition, the terminus "high-normal blood pressure" (systolic 130-140 mm Hg and diastolic 85 - < 90 mm Hg) was used for data analysis. The mean blood pressure was elevated among diabetic subjects (157/85 mmHg) when compared to the non-diabetic group (141/82 mm Hg). The analysis of visitors with an already known diabetes yielded only 14% of probands having normal blood pressure, whereby 63% of diabetic subjects were definitely in the hypertensive range. In overweight (BMI > 28 kg/m2) subjects, whose percentage in our population were 32%, blood pressure was elevated (RR > 150/90) in 51%. In subclasses with high blood pressure, an increased cholesterol level was often seen; 64% of these subjects had a cholesterol level of greater 200 mg/dl.