It is well known that obesity is associated with insulin resistance (IR), and IR may interact with platelet functions. Aging is also associated with (IR) and enhanced platelet aggregation (PA). Though platelet reactivity has been investigated in female individuals, to date there is insufficient data on PA in obese and elderly women for whom the physiological changes associated with aging may overlap the factors associated with obesity. Therefore we investigated PA and IR in obese aged and middle-aged female subjects. Thirty obese elderly women over 60 years of age and 30 middle-aged obese women under the age of 50 years with nonspecific complaints were enrolled in the study from internal medicine outpatient clinic. Anthropometric measurements, fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, and PA tests for collagen, epinephrine, adenosine diphosphate were evaluated. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2. Homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) index was calculated to estimate IR. PA tests were performed with a PA profiler. Mean age of the elderly and middle-aged women were = 69.6 ± 9.5 years and 38.6 ± 10.5 years, respectively. Waist circumference and BMI were similar between two groups. Mean HOMA-IR index value and PA with epinephrine was higher in the elderly than the control group (P = 0.04; P = 0.01, respectively). There was a positive correlation between HOMA-IR and PA with epinephrine in the elderly. Insulin resistance and platelet function test for epinephrine increased with advancing age in obese women. Large-scaled studies are needed in this area.
Key words: Insulin resistance, platelet aggregation, elderly, obesity
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