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Influence of gender on the relation between the metabolic syndrome and left ventricular mass

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 23, page 430 (2009)Cite this article

We read with interest the article by Mulè et al.,1 which explores the issue of the potential influence of gender on the relationship between the metabolic syndrome and and left ventricular (LV) mass. The Authors conclude that gender has no discernible effect on the above relation.

Apparently, these findings are in contrast with data from a large cohort of 3266 hypertensive subjects, in which the impact of the metabolic syndrome on LV mass was 70% greater in women than in men,2 and with a study carried out by our group in 612 untreated hypertensive subjects, in which the increase in LV mass in the subjects with the metabolic syndrome was found to be greater in women than in men.3 Indeed, in our study men with the metabolic syndrome had a significant 9% increase in LV mass index than men without the syndrome (50.3 vs 46.1 g × m−2.7, P=0.002), whereas this difference was as large as 24% in women (49.5 vs 40.0 g × m−2.7, P<0.001), and gender was found to be a significant effect modifier of the relation between the metabolic syndrome and LV mass.3

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References

  1. Mulè G, Cusimano P, Nardi E, Cottone S, Geraci C, Palermo A et al. Relationships between metabolic syndrome and left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients: does sex matter? J Hum Hypertens 2008; 22: 788–795.

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  2. Cuspidi C, Meani S, Valerio C, Sala C, Fusi V, Zanchetti A et al. Age and target organ damage in essential hypertension: role of the metabolic syndrome. Am J Hypertens 2007; 20: 296–303.

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  3. Schillaci G, Pirro M, Pucci G, Mannarino MR, Gemelli F, Siepi D et al. Different impact of the metabolic syndrome on left ventricular structure and function in hypertensive men and women. Hypertension 2006; 47: 881–886.

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  4. Schillaci G, Verdecchia P, Porcellati C, Cuccurullo O, Cosco C, Perticone F . Continuous relation between left ventricular mass and cardiovascular risk in essential hypertension. Hypertension 2000; 35: 580–586.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Internal Medicine, Angiology and Arteriosclerosis, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    G Schillaci & G Pucci

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  1. G Schillaci
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  2. G Pucci
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Correspondence to G Schillaci.

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Schillaci, G., Pucci, G. Influence of gender on the relation between the metabolic syndrome and left ventricular mass. J Hum Hypertens 23, 430 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2008.159

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