OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of losartan on
insulin resistance (IR) in elderly patients with essential hypertension
METHODS: The level of fasting and 2 h postprandial blood glucose (BG), serum insulin (IS), C peptide (CP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in 36 elderly patients with hypertension (EH group) were meansured, before and after treatment with 50 mg once daily losartan for 12 weeks And 18 healthy elderly subjects were used as control The insulin sensitive index (ISI) in both groups was calculated and compared RESULTS: The fasting and 2 h postprandial IS and CP level in EH group was
significantly higher than those in the control group and conversely the ISI value in EH group was significantly lower than those in control group After treatment with losartan, the MAP, the fasting and 2 h postprandial IS value of EH group were significantly decresed and ISI value was significantly increased CONCLUSION: Losartan not only can effectively decrease IR of EH patients but can also improve IR of elderly patient with hypertension