Climate Changes’ Effect on Blood Pressure in Diabetic Patients

There has been noted a correlation between atmospheric temperature and some chemical, hematological and homeostatic variables on blood presure. Blood pressures’ variation was determined in diabetic patients with no high blood pressure issues living in a region with hot summers of 90–100º F (BP Hot) and cold winters with snow (BP cold). Chihuahua city has such weather conditions. 221 patients were included, 44 were women (20%) and 177 men (80%). The timeline was from May 2016 to January 2019 were all the cardiovascular events were noted. Group I had 89 patients (40.2%), having Diabetes Mellitus for more than 20 years. Average age of the group is 70 years old (60 - 84 years old). The increase in systolic blood pressure (BP) was of 27.5 mmHg (15–30 mmHg) and of the diastolic BP of 10 mmHg. As extra data it was noted that pulse increased 10 beats per minute (bpm). As a clinical presentation, 35 patients (39.3%) patients were found to be in NYHA class I, 27 (30.3%) in class II, and 27 (30.3%) in class III. Dyslipidemia was present in 70 (78.6%) of them, hypertensive cardiomyopathy (per ECG or Echocardiogram) in 37 (41.5%). From this group, 27 (30.3%) were admitted in the ER for uncontrolled blood presure with no symptoms, 45 (50.5%) admitted for high BP with symptoms (headaches, dizzines, epistaxis or conjuctival hemorrhage), 9 (10.1%) were admitted due to heart insuficiency and 4 (4.4%) sudden cardiac death. Group II included 132 patients (59.8%) with less than 20 years with DM and an average age of 64 years old (53–71 years of age). The increase in systolic BP was of 8.5 mmHg (less than 10 mmHg) and diastolic BP of 5.8 mmHg. Heart rate varied by 3.3 bpm (less than 5). Clinical presentacion of NYHA class I were 89 (67.4%) patients, 30 (22.7%) in class II, and 13 (9.8%) in class III. 92 (69.6%) patients presented dyslipidemia, and 30 (22.7%) hypertensive cardiomyopathy. Out of this group, 30 (22.7%) patients were admitted due to high BP without symptoms and 17 (12.8%) were admitted with high BP and symptoms. It is concluded that patients that have been diabetic for a longer time, with greater cardiovascular problems and older in age have a diminished reaction to the body’s control mechanisms and react more to the cold weather.