Relationship Between Arterial Stiffness and New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus in Hypertensive Population

Background To investigate the relationship between arterial stiffness and new-onset diabetes mellitus in hypertensive population. Methods A total of 8,061 hypertensive and nondiabetic employees who participated in the yearly physical examination (2010–2015) of the Kailuan study were enrolled into the present study. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Baseline was set at the first baPWV measurement, while follow-up ended at the first incident of diabetes mellitus or until the last examination (2016–2017). According to baPWV quartile, the effect of baPWV on new-onset diabetes mellitus was analyzed by Cox proportional hazard model, and a sensitivity test was analyzed by body mass index stratification. Results The mean follow-up time was (4.2 ± 2.1) years. During the follow-up period, 874 (10.8%) participants developed diabetes, with an average incidence rate of 25.7 per 1,000 person-years. The incidence rate (per 1,000 person-years) of new-onset diabetes in the first to fourth quartile of baPWV was 14.6, 23.8, 27.2, and 37.7, respectively (P < 0.001). Compared with the first quartile of baPWV, after adjustment for age, gender, mean arterial pressure, baseline fasting glucose, hypersensitive C-reactive protein, and other confounding factors, the HR and 95% confidence interval for new-onset diabetes of the second, third, and fourth quartile were 1.57 (1.24–1.98), 1.74 (1.37–2.20), and 2.38 (1.87–3.03), respectively. For each standard deviation increase of baPWV, the HR and 95% confidence interval were 1.32 (1.24–1.42). Conclusions Arterial stiffness is associated with new-onset diabetes mellitus in the hypertensive population.