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Published on: May 3, 2018
Pulse pressure and mortality from cerebrovascular diseases in type 2 diabetic patients: the Verona Diabetes Study
Giacomo Zoppini1, Giuseppe Verlato, Cristina Zamboni
1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Insights
Mean pulse pressure strongly predicts cardiovascular mortality, especially from cerebrovascular diseases, in type 2 diabetes patients. This finding highlights pulse pressure as a key risk indicator for diabetic patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Diabetology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pulse pressure (PP) is a known predictor of cardiovascular disease mortality in general and diabetic populations.
- Investigating specific cardiovascular mortality in type 2 diabetes is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between pulse pressure and mortality from cerebrovascular and ischemic heart diseases.
- To determine the predictive value of mean pulse pressure and its coefficient of variation in type 2 diabetic patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 1,128 type 2 diabetic patients (aged 56-74) was followed for 10 years.
- Blood pressure measurements were analyzed for mean and coefficient of variation of pulse pressure.
- Specific causes of death, including cerebrovascular and ischemic heart disease, were assessed.
Main Results:
- Mean pulse pressure independently predicted all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.
- Mean pulse pressure, not its coefficient of variation, strongly predicted cerebrovascular disease mortality.
- A 10 mm Hg increase in mean pulse pressure was associated with an 86% rise in cerebrovascular mortality risk.
Conclusions:
- Mean pulse pressure is a significant predictor of cardiovascular mortality in type 2 diabetes.
- The predictive power of mean pulse pressure is particularly notable for cerebrovascular events.
- Pulse pressure emerges as a critical risk factor for cerebrovascular mortality in this diabetic cohort.
Background/Objective:
Previous studies conducted both in the general and diabetic population have shown that pulse pressure (PP) can predict mortality from cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between PP and specific cardiovascular mortality, i.e. from cerebrovascular and ischemic heart diseases, in a well-characterized cohort of type 2 diabetic patients.
Methods:
A cohort of 1,128 known type 2 diabetic patients 56 to 74 years of age with at least 2 blood pressure measurements for each year between 1984-1986 was followed-up for ten years to assess specific causes of death. The analyses were carried out by using the mean and the coefficient of variation (CV) of PP.
Results:
By the end of the 10-year follow-up period, 375 patients (178 male, 197 female) had died (33%). The mean PP resulted as an independent predictor of all causes and cardiovascular mortality. Remarkably, the mean PP, but not the CV of PP, was highly predictive of mortality from cerebrovascular diseases. The risk of cerebrovascular mortality rose by 86% with a 10 mm Hg increase in mean PP. PP turned out to be the most important predictor of cerebrovascular mortality among various pressure indexes (mean, systolic and diastolic pressure).
Conclusion:
The mean pulse pressure, but not the coefficient of variation is a strong predictor of cardiovascular mortality, mainly from cerebrovascular diseases, in type 2 diabetic patients.
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