Insulin resistance may be present in patients with heart failure and has a potential to reduce
myocardial as well as skeletal muscle activity. We have assessed insulin resistance as measured by
fasting insulin resistance index (FIR!) in 23 patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) [9 valvular
disease, 6 DCM and 8 IHD] and 10 control subjects of similar age and BMI. Fasting glucose, insulin,
C-peptide and lipid profile were estimated. CHF patients had similar mean fasting plasma glucose
concentration to control but significantly higher mean plasma insulin (10.57 vs 6.14 mU//L, P< 0.001)
and C-peptide (119.4 vs 63.2, P