Severe hypertension may lead to macroangiopathy complications especially when a major vascular risk factor as diabetes exists. We have studied the prevalence of macroangiopathy in a group of 40 consecutive NIDDM patients with severe hypertension (> or = 3 hypotensive drugs) (grS) that we have compared to 80 consecutive NIDDM patients with controlled hypertension (1 or 2 hypotensive drugs) (grC). All patients have had metabolic, blood pressure (ABPM) and vascular (color duplex) investigations. The two groups were similar for age (years): 61.9 > or = 9 versus 65.2 +/- 9.5, diabetes duration (years): 10.7 +/- 7 versus 12.1 +/- 8 and hypertension duration: (years) 8.9 +/- 8 versus 11.7 +/- 7.3. The mean level of blood pressure was the same in all patients (mmHg): SBP = 138 +/- 14 versus 144 +/- 20; DBP = 80 +/- 9 versus 83 +/- 13; MBP = 100 +/- 10 versus 105 +/- 15. The frequency (%) of escape SBP (> 140): 50 versus 80, p < 0.01), and DBP (> 90): 29 versus 35, p < 0.05 was significantly higher in grS. Twenty (25%) patients in grC and 20 (50%) in grS had one or more macroangiopathy which was dispatched as follow: coronary heart disease n = 8 (7%) versus 13 (32.5%), p < 0.01; lower limb arteritis n = 12 (15%) versus n = 9 (22%), NS; carotid atheroma n = 5 (25) versus n = 6 (15%), NS. All significant renal artery stenosis (RAS) n = 8 (20%) were found in grS (p < 0.001). Only plasma triglyceride level (mmol/L) was statistically higher in grS 2.5 +/- 1.2 versus +/- 1 while BMI, plasma cholesterol, HbA1C, and creatininemia were NS. The sex-ratio (F/M) 1.28 versus 3, insulin requirement (%): 11 versus 42.5, retinopathy (%) 14 versus 45 and micromacroalbuminuria were statistically significant p < 0.01.
Conclusion: macroangiopathy is frequent in severe hypertension (50%) versus controlled hypertension (25%) in NIDDM patients especially coronary heart disease (32.5%); the prevalence of RAS is high in grS (20%). The following criteria are frequently noticed in high risk patients: insulin requirement, micro or macroalbuminuria and high plasma triglyceride.