Pulse pressure and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy according to duration of type 1 diabetes

To evaluate changes in pulse pressure (PP) and markers of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) according to duration of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

This cross-sectional controlled study evaluated 159 diabetic patients during a 3-min posture test (standing-squatting-standing) with continuous measurement of systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean (MBP) blood pressure by a Finapres device. Arterial stiffness was indirectly assessed by PP and the slope of PP as a function of MBP calculated during the whole 3-min test. CAN was assessed by the expiration/inspiration pulse interval ratio (E/I R-R ratio) during deep breathing and by three indices measured during the squatting test. Patients were divided into four groups according to diabetes duration (<10 years, 11-20 years, 21-30 years and > 30 years from group 1 to group 4, respectively) and compared with age-matched non-diabetic subjects.

PP progressively increased (p < 0.0001) and PP/MBP decreased (p < 0.0005) according to T1DM duration, whereas these parameters remained almost unchanged in age-matched control subjects. E/I ratio (p < 0.0001) and baroreflex gain (p < 0.0005) progressively decreased with T1DM duration. The parasympathetic index (squatting test vagal ratio-SqTv) significantly increased (p < 0.0001), whereas the sympathetic index (squatting test sympathetic ratio-SqTs) only tended to decrease (p = 0.12) according to diabetes duration. No such changes in CAN indices were observed in the non-diabetic population.

PP increased according to T1DM duration in an age range where PP remained almost stable in controls, in agreement with accelerated arterial stiffening due to chronic hyperglycaemia. The baroreflex gain decreased and other indices of CAN also deteriorated with diabetes duration, more so indices reflecting parasympathetic rather than sympathetic dysfunction.