Background. Insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction are common findings in hy-pertensives, both predisposing to a higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular events. We designed this study to evaluate the role of endothelial dysfunction in three pathogenetic pathways: (1) from baseline to cardiovascular events, (2) from baseline to diabetes, and (3) from new-onset diabetes to cardiovascular events. Methods. We enrolled 653 Caucasian never-treated hypertensives. Endothelial dysfunction was investigated by strain-gauge plethysmography; incident diabetes and cardiovascular events were evaluated by an illness-event model analysis. Results. During the follow-up (median 113 months), we documented 191 new cardiovascular events and 92 new cases of diabetes. In a multiple Cox regression analysis, acetylcholine-stimulated forearm blood flow [100% decrease, hazard ratio: 2.42 (95% confidence interval = 1.72–3.40)] and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hazard ratio: 1.30 (95% confidence interval = 1.21–1.40)] had an independent association with cardiovascular outcomes. The incidence rate of cardiovascular outcomes in diabetes-developer patients was higher than in the diabetes-free ones (34.9 vs. 2.5 events per 100 persons-year). In an illness-event model, a 100% decrease in forearm blood flow was associated with a 55.5% hazard ratio increase (hazard ratio: 1.56, 95% confidence interval: 1.33–1.82) of transition 1 (from baseline status to cardiovascular events) and to an almost doubled increase (hazard ratio: 2.54, 95% CI: 2.00– 3.25) of the risk of transition 2 (from baseline status to diabetes). No such effects were found in transition 3 (from diabetes to cardiovascular events). Conclusions. Endothelial dysfunction plays a primary role in the pathways leading to diabetes and cardiovascular events in hypertensives. When diabetes is overt, endothelial dysfunction has no predictive value for subsequent cardiovascular events.
New-onset diabetes, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiovascular outcomes in hypertensive patients: An illness-event model analysis
Suraci E.;Gigliotti S.;Sciacqua A.;Andreozzi F.;Perticone F.;Perticone M.
2021-01-01
Abstract
Background. Insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction are common findings in hy-pertensives, both predisposing to a higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular events. We designed this study to evaluate the role of endothelial dysfunction in three pathogenetic pathways: (1) from baseline to cardiovascular events, (2) from baseline to diabetes, and (3) from new-onset diabetes to cardiovascular events. Methods. We enrolled 653 Caucasian never-treated hypertensives. Endothelial dysfunction was investigated by strain-gauge plethysmography; incident diabetes and cardiovascular events were evaluated by an illness-event model analysis. Results. During the follow-up (median 113 months), we documented 191 new cardiovascular events and 92 new cases of diabetes. In a multiple Cox regression analysis, acetylcholine-stimulated forearm blood flow [100% decrease, hazard ratio: 2.42 (95% confidence interval = 1.72–3.40)] and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hazard ratio: 1.30 (95% confidence interval = 1.21–1.40)] had an independent association with cardiovascular outcomes. The incidence rate of cardiovascular outcomes in diabetes-developer patients was higher than in the diabetes-free ones (34.9 vs. 2.5 events per 100 persons-year). In an illness-event model, a 100% decrease in forearm blood flow was associated with a 55.5% hazard ratio increase (hazard ratio: 1.56, 95% confidence interval: 1.33–1.82) of transition 1 (from baseline status to cardiovascular events) and to an almost doubled increase (hazard ratio: 2.54, 95% CI: 2.00– 3.25) of the risk of transition 2 (from baseline status to diabetes). No such effects were found in transition 3 (from diabetes to cardiovascular events). Conclusions. Endothelial dysfunction plays a primary role in the pathways leading to diabetes and cardiovascular events in hypertensives. When diabetes is overt, endothelial dysfunction has no predictive value for subsequent cardiovascular events.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
