Association between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE/AIM: To investigate the relationship between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2019 to 2021, our hospital enrolled 322 patients with T2DM. Clinical information and biochemical indicators of patients were collected from the inpatient electronic medical record system and analyzed retrospectively. Fundus photography, nerve conduction testing, and sensory threshold measurement were all conducted on the subjects. We measured the pulse wave velocity on both sides of the arm and ankle, then averaged the results. The enrolled cases were divided into two groups based on the baPWV: Group 1 (<the reference cutoff value, n = 160) and Group 2 (≥ the reference cutoff value, n = 162). The association between associated factors and baPWV abnormalities was investigated using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Group 2 had higher Systolic Blood Pressure(SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), duration of diabetes, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and Serum Uric Acid (SUA) than group 1 (all p < 0.05). The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy and nephropathy in group 2 was higher compared to group 1 (p < 0.05). After classifying subjects according to the presence or absence of diabetic complications, we found that the baPWV of the Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) group and Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) group was noticeably higher than that of non-DPN group and non-DN group, respectively (both p < 0.05). The baPWV increased with the aggravation of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that DBP (OR 1.039, 95%CI 1.010–1.068 p = 0.008), duration of diabetes (OR 1.059, 95%CI 1.017–1.103 p = 0.006), FPG (OR 1.104, 95%CI 1.025–1.188 p = 0.009) and BUN (OR 1.128, 95%CI 1.001–1.270 p = 0.048) were all independently and positively associated with baPWV. CONCLUSIONS: The baPWV is strongly associated with microvascular complications of T2DM. The DBP, duration of diabetes, FPG, and BUN were all independent associated factors of baPWV.