[Ambulatory arterial stiffness index and associated factors in patients with diabetic kidney disease]

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cardiology
• Hypertension Research

Background:

• Arterial stiffness is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular events.
• Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
• Understanding arterial stiffness in DKD is crucial for risk stratification and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare arterial stiffness, measured by ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI), between patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and non-diabetic kidney disease (NDKD).
• To identify predictors of AASI in patients with hypertension and kidney disease.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 44 DKD patients and 31 NDKD patients, all with hypertension.
• Ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) and short-term blood pressure variability (BPV) were measured using 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring.
• Statistical analyses included ANCOVA, correlation, and multivariate regression.

Main Results:

• DKD patients demonstrated significantly higher AASI compared to NDKD patients (0.55 ± 0.14 vs. 0.45 ± 0.16, P < 0.05).
• Higher 24-h systolic and daytime systolic BP variability were observed in DKD patients.
• In DKD patients, AASI correlated with various BPV parameters, with nighttime diastolic BP variability (nDBPV) and age showing the strongest associations.

Conclusions:

• Patients with DKD exhibit greater arterial stiffness and short-term BPV than those with NDKD.
• AASI is significantly associated with nDBPV and age in this hypertensive patient cohort.
• Optimizing short-term BPV control in hypertensive patients with DKD may enhance arterial elasticity.