Factors related to aortic pulse-wave velocity in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

The factors that influence the severity of large vessel pathology in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) were investigated in 154 randomly selected patients. Measurements of aortic pulse-wave velocity were used to quantify the severity of large vessel pathology. The results showed that of the 20 variables considered, age, systolic blood pressure, duration of disease and serum creatinine were all significantly correlated with pulse-wave velocity. Multiple regression analysis with pulse-wave velocity as the criterion variable showed that age, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were all significant explanatory variables, with age carrying the greatest weight. The findings suggest that controlling blood pressure is most important as a means of containing large vessel pathology in patients with NIDDM.