Arterial Stiffness Is More Associated with Albuminuria than Decreased Glomerular Filtration Rate in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The REBOUND Study

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between arterial stiffness and albuminuria and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This multicenter cohort study analyzed 2613 patients with type 2 diabetes. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was used as a noninvasive marker of arterial stiffness. Additionally, the patients were categorized into four groups according to their albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR, normoalbuminuria versus albuminuria) and estimated GFR (eGFR, <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) versus ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)). RESULTS: A univariate analysis revealed that maximal baPWV was significantly associated with both the ACR (r = 0.297, P < 0.001) and eGFR (r = −0.220, P < 0.001). A multivariate analysis adjusted for significant clinical variables and eGFR showed that baPWV remained significantly correlated with the ACR (r = 0.150, P < 0.001). Also, baPWV was correlated positively with the ACR in patients with an eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (r = 0.146, P < 0.001). However, baPWV was not correlated with eGFR after adjustment for significant clinical variables. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings indicate that arterial stiffness is more associated with albuminuria than a decrease in GFR in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.