Objective: To evaluate the impact of abdominal fat and insulin resistance on arterial hypertension of non-obese women. Methods: Thirty-five non-obese women (NO), age 35-68 years were studied, and divided into two groups according to the presence of hypertension (BP ≥ 140 x 90 mmHg) ( HT = hypertensive; NT = normotensive). Leptin measurement and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to assess insulin were performed in these patients. A CT-scan was used to evaluate visceral (VF) and subcutaneous abdominal fat (SCF). The Central fat distribution index (CDI) was proposed to evaluate the impact of subcutaneous abdominal fat on central fat distribution in hypertensive patients. Results: When compared to NT-NO (n = 17) group, HT-NO (n = 18) showed higher blood pressure levels (systolic and diastolic), greater VF area (

SummaryObjective: To evaluate the relationship between central obesity, hyperinsulinemia and arterial hypertension with left ventricular mass and geometry in women.Methods: This study included 70 women (35-68 years), divided into four groups according to the presence of central obesity and hypertension. Visceral fat area was determined. Blood glucose and plasma insulin were determined before and two hours after an oral 75g glucose load, and the patients were submitted to cardilogical evaluation.Results: Compared to NT-OB, HT-OB presented higher levels of plasma insulin at 2h-OGTT (127.5 ± 73.0 vs 86.8 ± 42.7 µU/ml; p=0.05) and reduced E wave/A wave ratio (E/A) (0.8 ± 0.1 vs 1.2 ± 0.3; p < 0.05). Compared to NT-NO, HT-NO showed higher insulin levels before glucose load (7.46 ± 3.1 vs 4.32 ± 2.1 µU/ml; p < 0.05), higher HOMAr (1.59 ± 0.72 vs 0.93 ± 0.48 mmol.mU/l²; p=0.006), higher leptin level (19.1 ± 9.6 vs 7.4 ± 3.5 ng/ml; p=0.028), greater VF area . It has been reported that while hypertensive nonobese patients show concentric left ventricular hypertrophy due to an increase in afterload 10 , obese patients, even the normotensives, show eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy due to an increase in preload. Hypertensive obese patients may present both these mechanisms.The aim of this study was to further evaluate the relation between central obesity, hyperinsulinemia and hypertension with left ventricular mass and geometry in women.