Association between pulse pressure and risk of hospital admissions for cardiovascular events among people with type 2 diabetes : a population-based case-control study

Aim: To investigate the association between pulse pressure and risk of hospitalization for cardiovascular events among people with Type 2 diabetes. Methods: A population-based case-control study was carried out using data from medical databases. A total of 588 people with Type 2 diabetes from 18 general practices in Cambridgeshire recorded a first hospitalization for a cardiovascular event between 2009 and 2011, and a total of 2920 age-matched, gender-matched and practice-matched control subjects with Type 2 diabetes were selected based on risk-set sampling. Pulse pressure was assessed before admission in 2008-2009. Further dose-response relationships between pulse pressure and risks were explored using spline models. Results: There was a non-linear relationship between pulse pressure and the risk of hospitalization for a cardiovascular event (P < 0.001 for linearity test). The pulse pressure associated with the lowest risk of hospitalization for a cardiovascular event was 61 (95% CI 57-63) mmHg. Conclusion: In people with Type 2 diabetes, pulse pressure is a good predictor of risk of hospitalization for cardiovascular events. The risk is lowest with a pulse pressure of 57-63 mmHg.