ARTERIAL STIFFNESS ASSESSMENT IN DIABETIC PATIENTS IN A CARDIOLOGY CLINIC

Abstract

Objective: Arterial stiffness is a complex phenomenon characterized by decreased compliance of the great arteries. In diabetes, the arterial wall undergoes a series of biomechanical changes, which can result in arterial stiffness. The mechanisms of these structural and functional arterial alterations in diabetes include insulin resistance, collagen accumulation due to inadequate enzymatic glycation, endothelial and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Increased arterial stiffness is a marker of cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients. We aimed to evaluate the arterial stiffness of diabetic pateients in a private cardiology clinic Design and method: We evaluated 46 patients in cardiology service, who underwent central pressure assessment with the Mobil O’Graph device. All additional information about the patients conditions were taken from their medical records. Results: A total of 46 patients underwent the examination, being 26 of them women (56%), with a mean age of 58.93 years (+-35). Of these patients, 22 (47.8%) were diabetic, reported by their medical records. The mean central systolic pressure of diabetic patients was 142.9mmHg (+-35.1) and the central diastolic pressure was 86.9mmHg (+-19.9). The mean pulse wave velocity was 9.68 (+-5.31), with 11 (50%) above the normal value, according to the Brazilian Guideline of Hypertension 2020. Conclusions: As seen in the analyzed patients, diabetic patients are at high risk for an increase in arterial stiffness. This is possibly because the mechanisms that cause changes in endothelial collagen loss, such as advanced glycation end products and the inhibitor of formation of these products, aminoguanidine, are exacerbated in diabetic patients. The importance of assessing arterial stiffness, through pulse wave velocity, in diabetic patients is evident.