Association between body mass index changes and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) changes and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Based on the T2DM cohort in rural communities of Zhejiang province, baseline and follow up information of height, weight, blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C of the T2DM patients were collected. After excluding those who died during the follow-up period, lost follow-up or had incomplete information, a total of 8 953 T2DM patients were included in the final analysis. Multiple linear regression and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used for analysis. Results: At baseline survey, 40.97% of the T2DM patients were overweight and obese. Compared with those with normal BMI, the SBP, DBP and TG level were significantly higher, while HDL-C level was significantly lower in the overweight and obese T2DM patients (P<0.01). During the follow-up period, the blood glucose control rate in the patients increased by 15%, and the levels of HbA1c decreased in the patients with different BMI changes at different degrees. Compared with the patients who kept normal BMI, the HbA1c level decrease had a smaller range, while the SBP and DBP increase had a larger range in the patients with persistent overweight and obesity, and their substandard rates of HbA1c, SBP, DBP, TG, HDL-C levels were 1.142 (1.057-1.233) times, 1.123 (1.055-1.196) times, 1.220 (1.128-1.320) times, 1.400 (1.282-1.528) times and 1.164 (1.069-1.267) times higher. The changes of blood pressure, blood lipids and other related indicators in the patients whose BMI became abnormal were similar to those of the patients with persistent overweight and obesity; Compared with the patients whose BMI were kept normal, the differences in changes and substandard rate of blood glucose level, blood pressure level in the patients whose BMI became normal were not significant (P>0.05). The change value of BMI was positively correlated with the change value of SBP, DBP, TG and LDL-C, while negatively correlated with the change value of HDL-C (P<0.05). Conclusions: Abnormal changes in BMI are associated with the adverse changes of blood glucose level, blood pressure, and blood lipids level and other cardiovascular disease risk factors. Keeping normal BMI would benefit the positive outcome of cardiovascular adverse factors.