Association of aortic pressures with fasting plasma glucose in patients with and without impaired fasting glucose

Abstract

Background. Diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) are associated with future cardiovascular disorders. Aortic pulse pressure (PP) and fractional pulse pressures (FPPs) are strong and independent indicators of the risk of coronary heart disease. These conditions have been reported to be associated with endothelial dysfunction. In the present study, aortic PP and FPPs of patients with and without impaired fasting glucose were evaluated. Methods. Fifty patients with IFG with a mean age of 56.8±12.2 years and 47 patients with normal fasting glucose (NFG) with a mean age of 53.1±11.2 years were included in the study. All subjects had angiographically proven normal coronary arteries without coronary slow flow. Aortic systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured invasively. Mean pressure, PP and FPPs (aortic PP/mean pressure) were calculated. Results. All parameters measured were significantly higher in the IFG group than in the control (NFG) group (133±21 mmHg and 117±12 mmHg, p<0.001 for aortic systolic pressure; 79±12 mmHg and 74±8 mmHg, p=0.035 for aortic diastolic pressure; 97±14 mmHg and 88±9 mmHg, p=0.001 for aortic mean pressure; 54±13 mmHg and 43±8 mmHg, p<0.001 for aortic PP; 0.56±0.10 and 0.48±0.08, p<0.001 for aortic FPP). In addition, in linear regression analysis, a positive correlation was found between fasting plasma glucose and the aortic FPP (p=0.001, R2=0.12). Conclusion. Ascending aorta PP and FPPs are significantly associated with the presence of IFG. These findings suggest that IFG is associated with endothelial dysfunction and so aortic stiffness.