Association of female sex and heart rate with increased arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with increased arterial stiffness (IAS) measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV) and its clinical implications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).
Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study. The ankle–brachial PWV was used to measure arterial stiffness, and 310 patients (mean age, 49±9 years; 180 men) with type 2 DM were divided into two groups according to the results of PWV: Group 1 (IAS; n=214) and Group 2 (normal arterial stiffness; n=96).
Results: Patients in Group 1 were predominantly females (48% vs. 28%, p=0.001) and showed higher blood pressure and faster heart rate (HR). The glomerular filtration rate was lower and the urine microalbumin level was higher in patients with IAS. In multiple regression analysis, female sex and faster HR were independently associated with IAS. In subgroup analysis among female patients, prior stroke was more common in patients with IAS, and faster HR and increased postprandial 2-h C-peptide level were independently associated with IAS.
Conclusion: Female sex and faster HR were independently associated with IAS in patients with type 2 DM. In a subgroup analysis among female patients, prior stroke was more common in patients with IAS, and faster HR and elevated postprandial 2-h C-peptide level were found to be independently associated with IAS.