The aim of the study was to examine insulin sensitivity in patients with ischemic heart disease and different severity of angiographically confirmed atherosclerotic lesions of coronary arteries.
Matherials and methods. Seventy eight patients with clinical signs of ischemic heart disease were enrolled into the study. All patients underwent coronarography and the index of insulin resistance HOMA was measured based on plasma insulin and glucose levels.
Results and discussion. All studied patients were divided for 3 groups depending on the number of occluded coronary arteries. None of them had history or signs of diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance. We found an increase of HOMA compared to reference values of healthy population. It was statistically significant increase of HOMA in patients with ischemic heart disease and 3 coronary arteries damaged compared to the group of patients with 1 artery involved. There was no significant difference in HOMA between groups of patients with 3 and 2 occluded coronary arteries.
Conclusion. There is insulin resistance characterized by elevated index HOMA in patients with ischemic heart disease which is the most pronounced in subjects with 3 occluded coronary arteries.