Table I.
General data and plasma VEGF levels among the three groups.
| Characteristic | Control group (n=30) | H group (n=62) | L group (n=62) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males, n | 18 | 25 | 23 | 0.100 |
| Age, years | 57.3±8.7 | 59.3±9.8 | 58.9±8.8 | 0.683 |
| SBP, mmHg | 145±21 | 156±18 | 150±20 | 0.248 |
| Diabetes, n | 4 | 13 | 19 | 0.156 |
| Smoking, n | 12 | 20 | 18 | 0.574 |
| BMI | 25.5±2.1 | 27.8±3.0 | 26.1±2.3 | 0.053 |
| ACEI administration, n | 10 | 18 | 16 | 0.751 |
| β-blocker administration, n | 5 | 10 | 8 | 0.843 |
| Median VEGF, pg/ml | 82.15 | 265.42 | 121.60 | 0.033 |
SBP, systolic blood pressure; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; BMI, body mass index; ACEI, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; L group, ≤190 pg/ml VEGF plasma level; H group, >190 pg/ml VEGF plasma level; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.