Cardiovascular risk and heart rate variability in young adults with type 2 diabetes and arterial stiffness: The SEARCH for diabetes in youth study

Abstract Aims To evaluate cardiovascular risk factors and heart rate variability (HRV) in young adults with type 2 diabetes and arterial stiffness and to explore the relationship between HRV and arterial stiffness. Methods We studied 185 young adults with youth-onset T2D enrolled in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study. Cardiovascular risk factors and HRV were compared between individuals with and without type 2 diabetes and arterial stiffness (defined as a pulse wave velocity greater than the 90th percentile of healthy controls, >6.767 m/s). Semiparametric regression evaluated the independent relationship between HRV and PWV. Results Participants with T2D and arterial stiffness were more likely to be older, non-Hispanic Black, have higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, greater adiposity and obesity-related dyslipidemia (higher triglycerides and lower HDL C). Participants with T2D arterial stiffness also had lower overall HRV (lower SDNN) with parasympathetic loss (lower RMSSD and PNN50), p  Conclusions Youth with T2D and arterial stiffness have a worse cardiovascular risk profile, specifically risk factors related to the metabolic syndrome and lower HRV.