Association between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: results from a cohort study

Positive association of oscillometrically estimated baseline arterial stiffness with incident diabetes and prediabetes: A large population-based cohort study

AIMS

This large population-based study aimed to investigate whether arterial stiffness, assessed oscillometrically, was associated with incident diabetes/prediabetes.

METHODS

The study sample comprised 4240 participants from the Vitamin D Assessment (ViDA) Study (mean±SD age = 66 ± 8). Arterial stiffness was assessed from 5 April 2011-6 November 2012 by way of aortic PWV (aPWV) and estimated carotid-femoral PWV (ecfPWV). Incident diabetes/prediabetes was determined by linkage to dispensed prescription and national hospital discharge registers. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the risk of diabetes/prediabetes in relation to chosen arterial stiffness measures both overall and over quartiles.

RESULTS

During a mean±SD follow-up of 10.5 ± 0.4 years, 470 participants developed diabetes/prediabetes. Following adjustment for potential confounders, aPWV (hazard ratio (HR) per SD increase, 1.40, 95 % CI, 1.19-1.64) was associated with the incidence of diabetes. The risk of incident diabetes was, compared to the first quartile, higher in the fourth quartile of aPWV (HR, 1.98, 95 %CI, 1.26-3.11)(Ptrend=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Arterial stiffness, as measured by aPWV may be a useful predictor of incident diabetes that can be utilized in clinical practice.

Prognostic value of pulse wave velocity for cardiovascular disease risk stratification in diabetic patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

Arterial stiffness, a significant cardiovascular risk marker, is particularly important in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Pulse wave velocity (PWV), a non-invasive measure of arterial stiffness, has emerged as an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, its precise prognostic value in DM patients for cardiovascular risk stratification remains unclear. To address this, a systematic review was conducted.

METHOD

A thorough search of Ovid and Scopus databases was performed for cohort studies on PWV measurements for cardiovascular risk stratification in DM patients. Nine studies were included, examining the relationship between PWV and cardiovascular events or composite endpoints in DM patients asymptomatic of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

RESULTS

The review revealed that optimal PWV cutoffs to predict composite cardiovascular events ranged from 10 to 12.16 m/s (aortic PWV) and 14 to 16.72 m/s (brachial-ankle PWV). In addition, meta-analysis yielded a HR of 1.15 (95 % CI 1.07-1.24, p < 0.001, I2 = 70 %) for aortic PWV in predicting cardiovascular events.

CONCLUSION

The assessment of arterial stiffness via PWV shows promise as an early diagnostic marker for CVD in DM patients, aiding in improved disease management. This underscores the potential of PWV in enhancing cardiovascular risk assessment and guiding clinical decisions in this high-risk population, without invasive procedures or radiation exposure.

Diabetes, glycemic control and arterial stiffness: a real-world cohort study in the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine

Background

Arterial stiffness is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although several metabolic markers associated with arterial stiffness have been developed, there is limited data regarding whether glycemic control modifies the association between diabetes and arterial stiffness. For these reasons, identification of traits around diabetes will directly contribute to arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis management in the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM). Thus, this study aimed to explore the relationship of diabetes and glycemic control status with arterial stiffness in a real-world setting.

Methods

Data of participants from Beijing Xiaotangshan Examination Center (BXEC) with at least two surveys between 2008 and 2019 were used. Cumulative hazards were presented by inverse probability of treatment weighted (IPTW) Kaplan-Meier curves. Cox models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Arterial stiffness was defined as brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) ≥1400 cm/s.

Results

Of 5837 participants, the mean baseline age was 46.5±9.3 years, including 3791 (64.9%) males. During a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 1928 (33.0%) cases of incident arterial stiffness were observed. People with diabetes at baseline had a 48.4% (HR: 1.484, 95% CI: 1.250-1.761) excessive risk of arterial stiffness. Adherence to good glycemic control attenuated the relationship between diabetes and arterial stiffness (HR: 1.264, 95% CI: 0.950-1.681); while uncontrolled diabetes was associated with the highest risk of arterial stiffness (HR: 1.629, 95% CI: 1.323-2.005). Results were consistent using IPTW algorithm and multiple imputed data.

Conclusion

Our study quantified that diabetes status is closely associated with an increased risk of arterial stiffness and supported that adherence to good glycemic control could attenuate the adverse effect of diabetes on arterial stiffness. Therefore, glucose monitoring and control is a cost-effective strategy for the predictive diagnostics, targeted prevention, patient stratification, and personalization of medical services in early vascular damages and arterial stiffness.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-023-00347-z.

Association between Periodontitis and Aortic Calcification: A Cohort Study

The present study investigated the association between the presence of periodontitis and aortic calcification (AC) risk among Chinese adults. A total of 6059 individuals who underwent regular health check-ups and received a diagnosis of periodontitis between 2009 and 2016 were included. The outcome was AC, assessed by a chest low-dose spiral CT scan. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess the association between periodontitis and AC risk after adjusting for several confounders. After a median follow-up period of 2.3 years (interquartile range: 1.03-4.97 years), 843 cases of AC were identified, with 532 (12.13%) and 311 (18.59%) patients in the non-periodontitis group and periodontitis group, respectively. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that, compared with those without periodontitis, the hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval for AC risk in participants with periodontitis was 1.18 (1.02-1.36) (P = .025) in the fully adjusted model. Stratified analyses showed that the positive relationship between periodontitis and AC was more evident in males and participants <65 years of age (p_interaction = .005 and .004, respectively). Our results show that the presence of periodontitis was positively associated with AC among Chinese adults, especially among males and younger participants.

Metabolically obese phenotype and its dynamic change are associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness: Results from a cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

To examine associations between metabolically obese phenotypes or their changes and increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).

METHODS AND RESULTS

This prospective cohort included 13,681 Chinese adults aged 20-80 years who completed follow-up health examination with carotid ultrasound and were divided according to metabolic and weight status: metabolically healthy and normal weight (MHNW); metabolically obese but normal weight (MONW); metabolically healthy but obese (MHO); metabolically abnormal and obese (MAO). Cox and logistic regression were used to evaluate the associations of the phenotypes or their changes with increased CIMT. During a mean follow-up of 33 months, 1927 participants developed increased CIMT. After adjusting for age, sex and potential biochemical confounders, MAO was significantly associated with increased CIMT (HR 1.22, 95% CI [1.07, 1.4]); the association remained significant in those 40 years or older. Compared with stable MHNW, increased CIMT risk was higher for stable MAO (OR 1.35 [1.16, 1.57]), transitional MAO from MONW (OR 1.44 [1.04, 1.97]), and transitional MHO from MHNW (OR 1.59 [1.10, 2.26]) in demographic adjusted models; only stable MAO remained significant in the multivariate adjusted model (OR 1.23 [1.05, 1.45]).

CONCLUSION

MAO significantly elevated the risk of increased CIMT. Stable MAO and obese transitions also promoted CIMT progression.

Assessment of arteriosclerosis based on multiscale cross approximate entropy of human finger pulse wave

BACKGROUND: Arteriosclerosis is one of the diseases that endanger human health. There is a large amount of information in pulse wave signals to reflect the degree of arteriosclerosis. OBJECTIVE: The degree of arteriosclerosis is assessed by analyzing pulse wave signal and calculating multi-scale entropy values. METHODS: A method based on the multiscale cross-approximate entropy of the pulse wave of the human finger is proposed to assess the degree of arteriosclerosis. A total of 86 subjects were divided into three groups. The data of 1000 pulse cycles were selected in the experiment, and the multiscale cross-approximate entropy was calculated for the climb time and pulse wave peak interval. Independent sample t-test analysis gives the small-scale cross-approximate entropy of the two time series of climb time and pulse wave peak interval as p< 0.001 in Groups 1 and 2. The large-scale cross-approximate entropy of the two time series of climb time and pulse wave peak interval is p< 0.017 in Groups 2 and 3. RESULTS: Using the proposed algorithm, the results showed that the small-scale cross-approximate entropy of climb time and pulse wave peak interval could reflect the degree of arteriosclerosis in the human body from the perspective of autonomic nerve function. The large-scale cross-approximate entropy of climb time and pulse wave peak interval confirmed the effect of diabetes on the degree of arteriosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate the multiscale cross-approximate entropy is a comprehensive index to evaluate the degree of human arteriosclerosis.

Arterial Stiffness and Long-Term Risk of Health Outcomes: The Framingham Heart Study

BACKGROUND

Arterial stiffness increases with age and is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes on short-term follow-up (typically <10 years). Data regarding associations of arterial stiffness with health outcomes on longer-term follow-up are lacking.

METHODS

We evaluated 7283 Framingham Study participants (mean age 50 years, 53% women) who underwent assessment of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (a marker of arterial stiffness) via applanation tonometry at one or more routine examinations. We used time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression models to relate carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity to the incidence of health outcomes (updating carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and all covariates at serial examinations).

RESULTS

On long-term follow-up (median 15 years; minimum-maximum, 0-20), participants developed cardiometabolic disease (hypertension [1255 events]; diabetes [381 events]), chronic kidney disease (529 events), dementia (235 events), cardiovascular disease (684 events) and its components (coronary heart disease [314 events], heart failure [191 events], transient ischemic attacks or stroke [250 events]), and death (1086 events). In multivariable-adjusted models, each SD increment in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was associated with increased risk of hypertension (hazard ratio [HR], 1.32 [95% CI, 1.21-1.44]), diabetes (HR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.11-1.58]), chronic kidney disease (1.19 [95% CI, 1.05-1.34]), dementia (HR 1.27 [95% CI, 1.06-1.53]), cardiovascular disease (HR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.06-1.36]) and its components (coronary heart disease, HR 1.37 [95% CI, 1.13-1.65]; transient ischemic attack/stroke, HR, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.00-1.53]), and death (HR, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.17-1.43]). The association with heart failure was borderline nonsignificant (HR, 1.21 [95% CI, 0.98-1.51], P=0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

Our prospective observations of a large community-based sample establish the long-term prognostic importance of arterial stiffness for multiple health outcomes.

Arterial Stiffness, Genetic Risk, and Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate prospective associations of pulse wave arterial stiffness index (ASI) and pulse pressure (PP) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and assess the modifying effect of genetics.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We included 152,611 participants free of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the UK Biobank. All participants had ASI and blood pressure measurements collected at baseline visit. In total, 37 single nucleotide polymorphisms were used to calculate the genetic risk score (GRS) of T2D.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 9.5 years, 3,000 participants developed T2D. Per-SD increase in ASI was associated with a 3% higher T2D risk (95% CI 2-4%). The hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) of T2D was 1.58 (1.39-1.80) in the highest quintile group compared with the lowest quintile group of ASI. However, the association between PP and T2D was nonlinear. Compared with the lowest quintile group, the risk of T2D in higher quintile groups of PP was 0.91 (0.79-1.04), 0.98 (0.86-1.11), 1.15 (1.01-1.30), and 1.24 (1.10-1.41), respectively. Furthermore, we observed an interaction between ASI and genetic susceptibility to T2D, because the elevated HR of T2D associated with high ASI was more evident among participants with higher GRS of T2D (P interaction = 0.008), whereas the interaction between PP and GRS was nonsignificant (P interaction = 0.55).

CONCLUSIONS

ASI was associated with an elevated risk of T2D in a dose-response fashion, whereas PP and T2D showed a nonlinear J-shaped association. Additionally, the association between ASI and T2D was partially strengthened by higher genetic susceptibility to T2D.

The association of diabetes mellitus with carotid atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness in the Corinthia study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Evaluation of arterial stiffness and carotid atherosclerotic burden can provide important prognostic information regarding the risk of future cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to assess these vascular properties in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODS AND RESULTS

In the context of the observational "Corinthia" study, we analyzed 1757 participants with determined DM status. Carotid ultrasonography was performed to evaluate intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaque burden. Arterial stiffness was estimated via assessment of carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). Individuals with DM had increased mean cIMT, maximum cIMT, carotid plaque burden, and cfPWV compared to those without DM. After multivariable regression analysis, the presence of DM was still associated with significantly increased mean cIMT (by 0.074 mm, p = .004), maximum cIMT (by 0.134 mm, p = .007), cfPWV (by 0.929 m/s, p < .001), and a higher prevalence of carotid plaques (odds ratio 1.52, 95% confidence intervals 1.11, 2.10, p = .01). In a propensity score-matched cohort, mean cIMT, maximum cIMT, and carotid plaque burden were significantly higher in individuals with DM. Analysis according to territory of cIMT measurement displayed substantial differences in left (DM: 1.32 ± 0.78 mm vs. no DM: 1.20 ± 0.66 mm, p = .04) and right carotid bulbs (DM: 1.33 ± 0.82 mm vs. no DM: 1.18 ± 0.69 mm, p = .02) with respect to DM status while non-significant variations were observed in left (DM: 0.98 ± 0.49 mm vs. no DM: 0.91 ± 0.35 mm, p = .06) and right common carotid artery (DM: 0.95 ± 0.50 mm vs. no DM: 0.92 ± 0.40 mm, p = .36).

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased cfPWV and cIMT, with more pronounced lesions in the carotid bulb.

Association between blood urea nitrogen and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Chinese population: a cohort study

To examine the association between blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) among Chinese adults, we performed an ongoing cohort study of 38578 Chinese adults (56.3% males; average age, 41.6 y) who underwent repeated health check-up examinations between 2009 and 2016 and without T2DM at baseline. During follow-up, incident T2DM cases were identified based on self-report, medication use, measurements of fasting plasma glucose, 2 h post oral glucose, or haemoglobinA1c. 2009 (5.2%) cases confirmed with incident T2DM were identified during median follow-up of 3.1 years. With increasing quartiles of BUN levels, the incidences of T2DM gradually increased with 0.69%, 1.11%, 1.53%, and 1.87% for quartile 1 to quartile 4 (p trend <0.001). Compared with quartile 1, the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and its 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for T2DM risk were 1.16 (0.97-1.38) for quartile 2, 1.28 (1.07-1.51) for quartile 3, and 1.28 (1.08-1.52) for quartile 4 (p trend = 0.005). HR for per each standard deviation increase in BUN level was 1.10 (1.04-1.16) (p trend <0.001). This association tended to be more pronounced in those with a lower body mass index at baseline (p-interaction <0.001). Our results suggested that BUN levels were positively associated with incident T2DM risk among Chinese adults. Future prospective investigations in other populations are necessary to confirm our findings.

Increased Arterial Stiffness as a Predictor for Onset and Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

INTRODUCTION

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), an indicator of arterial stiffness, has been demonstrated to be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its vascular complications. This study was aimed at investigating the correlations of baPWV with both the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) at baseline and at exploring the predictive role of baPWV in the new onset/progression of DR in the follow-up analysis.

METHODS

The prospective cohort study recruited 2,473 Chinese patients with T2DM, of whom 663 participants were finally included in the follow-up analysis. The presence and grading of DR were performed by the modified Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study. Uni- or multivariate linear and logistic regression models and Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis were conducted.

RESULTS

Of 2,473 patients with T2DM at baseline, 734 individuals were assessed to have DR and further categorized into 630 with non-sight-threatening DR (NSTDR) and 104 with STDR. In addition to the positive relationship between increased baPWV and the presence of DR, multinominal logistic regression analysis revealed that higher tertiles of baPWV were significantly related to the NSTDR (T2: OR = 1.62 (1.22, 2.15), p < 0.001, and T3: OR = 2.58 (1.86, 3.58), p < 0.001) and STDR group (T3: OR = 3.87 (1.87, 8.02), p < 0.001). During a follow-up (mean period of 16.4 months), 111 participants had new onset/progression of DR. The cox regressions showed that high baseline baPWV was correlated with increased risk of development/progression of DR (HR = 2.24, 95% CI (1.24, 4.03), p = 0.007, for T2 baPWV and HR = 2.90, 95% CI (1.49, 5.64), p = 0.002, for T3 baPWV) after adjustments for multiple factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that baseline baPWV might be an independent predictor in new onset/worsening of DR, suggesting that increased arterial stiffness might be involved in the development of DR. Follow-up studies with a longer duration are needed.

Individual and combined contributions of age-specific and sex-specific pulse pressure and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity to the risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to investigate the individual and combined effects of age-specific and sex-specific pulse pressure (PP) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) on the incidence of new-onset diabetes mellitus.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Participants in the Kailuan study cohort who were ≥20 years old, participated in follow-up assessments and underwent baPWV measurements in 2010-2011, 2012-2013, and 2014-2015 were studied. The participants were allocated to four groups according to their PP and baPWV status, each categorized as high or normal, according to age-specific and sex-specific median values. Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore the individual and combined effects of PP and baPWV on the incidence of diabetes mellitus.

RESULTS

There were 18 619 participants who were followed for 4.27±1.91 years. A total of 877 new cases of diabetes were identified, and the incidence density was 11.03/1000 per year. Using the normal PP and normal baPWV group as the reference group, the multivariable-adjusted HRs and 95% CIs for diabetes mellitus in the high PP and high baPWV groups were 1.08 (0.93 to 1.25) and 1.64 (1.41 to 1.90), respectively. Compared with the normal PP/baPWV group, the HR and 95% CI for diabetes in the normal PP/high baPWV, the high PP/normal baPWV, and high PP/baPWV groups were 1.66 (1.35 to 2.05), 1.09 (0.86 to 1.37), and 1.74 (1.43 to 2.13), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

High baPWV was independently associated with a higher risk of diabetes mellitus, and individuals with both high baPWV and high PP were at a still higher risk of diabetes mellitus.

Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index in the Persons with Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes Mellitus in the Population Sample of the Russian Federation

The aim of this study was to evaluate Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) and increased arterial stiffness predictors in patients with carbohydrate metabolism disorders (CMD) in the population sample of Russian Federation. Methods: 1617 patients (age 25–64 years) were enrolled in an observational cross-sectional study Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases and Their Risk Factors in the Regions of the Russian Federation (ESSE-RF). The standard ESSE-RF protocol has been extended to measure the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), a marker of arterial stiffness. Patients were divided into three groups: patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 272), patients with prediabetes (n = 44), and persons without CMD (n = 1301). Results: Median CAVI was higher in diabetes and prediabetes groups compared with group without CMD (p = 0.009 and p < 0.001, respectively). Elevated CAVI (≥9.0) was detected in 16.8% of diabetes patients, in 15.9% of those with prediabetes, and in 9.0% of those without CMD (p < 0.001). The factors affecting on CAVI did not differ in CVD groups. In logistic regression the visceral obesity, increasing systolic blood pressure (SBP) and decreasing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were associated with a pathological CAVI in CMD patients, and age, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and cholesterol in persons without CMD. Conclusions: the CAVI index values in the prediabetes and diabetes patients were higher than in normoglycemic persons in a population sample of the Russian Federation. Since the identified disorders of arterial stiffness in prediabetes are similar to those in diabetes, their identification is important to prevent further cardiovascular complications.