Association between within-visit systolic blood pressure variability and development of pre-diabetes and diabetes among overweight/obese individuals

J Hum Hypertens. 2017 Dec;32(1):26-33. doi: 10.1038/s41371-017-0009-y. Epub 2017 Nov 7.

Abstract

Short-term blood pressure variability is associated with pre-diabetes/diabetes cross-sectionally, but there are no longitudinal studies evaluating this association. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between within-visit systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability and development of pre-diabetes/diabetes longitudinally. The study was conducted among eligible participants from the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study (SOALS), who completed the 3-year follow-up exam. Participants were Hispanics, 40-65 years of age, and free of diabetes at baseline. Within-visit systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability was defined as the maximum difference between three measures, taken a few minutes apart, of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively. Diabetes progression was defined as development of pre-diabetes/diabetes over the follow-up period. We computed multivariate incidence rate ratios adjusting for baseline age, gender, smoking, physical activity, waist circumference, and hypertension status. Participants with systolic blood pressure variability ≥10 mmHg compared to those with <10 mmHg, showed higher progression to pre-diabetes/diabetes (RR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.30-2.42). The association persisted among never smokers. Diastolic blood pressure variability ≥10 mmHg (compared to <10 mmHg) did not show an association with diabetes status progression (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.71-2.01). Additional adjustment of baseline glycemia, C-reactive protein, and lipids (reported dyslipidemia or baseline HDL or triglycerides) did not change the estimates. Systolic blood pressure variability may be a novel independent risk factor and an early predictor for diabetes, which can be easily incorporated into a single routine outpatient visit at none to minimal additional cost.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autonomic Nervous System / physiopathology*
  • Blood Pressure*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / complications*
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Prediabetic State / etiology*