Association between Fasting Blood Glucose Levels and Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Korean Men and Women

J Health Info Stat > Volume 39(2); 2014 > Article

J Health Info Stat 2014;39(2):90-99.

Jae Woong Sull , Dae Ryong Kang , Sun Ha Jee

ABSTRACT

Background: Increased fasting blood glucose (FBG) level and obesity can be associated with the progression of arterial stiffness, which is an early marker of atherosclerosis. Measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a non-invasive method to evaluate vessel wallstiffness. Objective: The objective was to determine the association of FBG levels and obesity with peripheral PWV considering insulin resistance.
Methods:
Across-sectional study was conducted in 2006. Waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and PWV were measured in 3,390 healthy Korean men and women. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the association between FBG levels and peripheral PWV. The population was classi- fied into two groups according to median insulin resistance values (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]).
Results:
Peripheral PWV was significantly associated with BMI and systolic blood pressure in men and women, respectively, after adjusting for age, lipid levels, and HOMA-IR (Table 3). WCwas associated with peripheral PWV only in women ( p=0.006). The relationship between peripheral PWV and FBG in women was significant in subjects with HOMA-IR < 0.725 (p= 0.015).
Conclusions:
These results suggest that FBG levels and waist circumference are associated with peripheral PWV in Korean women. Further studies should be performed in other populations to confirm the association between FBG levels and PWV considering insulin resistance.

Key words: Pulse wave velocity, Fasting blood glucose, Obesity, Insulin resistance