Abstract 275: Association Between Pulse Pressure and A1c

Background: Increased pulse pressure (PP) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality in men and women. Increased PP has also been shown to be a stronger predictor of CVD mortality, than systolic (S), diastolic (D), or mean blood pressure (BP). Changes in PP amplitude are also associated with other metabolic syndrome components. PP is increased in obesity and increases at a greater rate in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM); and may contribute to the risk and "opinion" that labels DM-CVD-risk as equivalent to previous myocardial infarction. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the metabolic marker, Hemoglobin A1c (A1c), during the early stage of DM development is also associated with a readily available clinical vascular marker, PP. Such an observation may provide an opportunity to detect and start preventive treatment earlier and provide a possible path to begin investigating the mechanisms of hypertensive-diabetic CVD. Methodology: Complete basel...