Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity is useful for evaluation of complications in type 2 diabetic patients.

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is useful for the evaluation of aortic stiffness. The brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) and carotid PWV (from heart to carotid) were compared to study the relation of these two types of PWVs to diabetic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The baPWV was determined by oscillometrically measuring the pulse volume record at the upper arm and ankles. The carotid PWV was measured tonometrically. Ninety patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were divided into tertile groups on the basis of baPWV or carotid PWV. The correlations of these variables with albuminuria, peripheral neuropathy, coefficient of variation of R-R intervals (CV R-R) on the electrocardiogram at rest, and retinopathy were examined by logistic regression analysis. After adjustment for age, systolic blood pressure, and duration of diabetes, logistic regression analysis showed that baPWV was directly related to the frequencies of albuminuria, decreased CV R-R, peripheral neuropathy, and retinopathy. In contrast, carotid PWV did not significantly correlate with any diabetic complications. We conclude that oscillometrically determined baPWV is related to the risk of diabetic microvascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and suggested to be useful for assessing risk factors of diabetic complications.