Carotid stiffness is associated with retinal microvascular dysfunction—The Maastricht study

• DOI: 10.1111/micc.12702
• Publication Date: 2021-04-28T00:28:36Z
• Authors: Frank C. T. van d...; Tan Lai Zhou; Ronald M. A. Henry; Alfons J. H. M. H...; Abraham A. Kroon; Pieter C. Dagnelie; Martien C. J. M. ...; Simone J. P. M. E...; Tos T. J. M. Bere...; Jan S. A. G. Scho...; Carroll A. B. Webers; Miranda T. Schram; Marleen M. J. van...; Anke Wesselius; Casper G. Schalkwijk; Annemarie Koster; Hans H. C. M. Sav...; Nicolaas C. Schaper; Koen D. Reesink; Coen D. A. Stehouwer
• Keywords: Male; aortic stiffness; type 2 diabetes mellitus; microvascular dysfunction; Original Articles; Middle Aged; Pulse Wave Analysis; 3. Good health; Cohort Studies; diabetic retinopathy; retinal microvascular diameter; 03 medical and health sciences; arterial stiffness; carotid stiffness; Carotid Arteries; Cross-Sectional Studies; Vascular Stiffness; 0302 clinical medicine; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Humans; Female; Aged

Abstract Objective This study investigated whether arterial stiffening is a determinant of subtle retinal microvascular changes that precede diabetic retinopathy. Research design and methods used cross‐sectional data from the Maastricht Study, type 2 diabetes‐enriched population‐based cohort study. We multivariable linear regression analysis to investigate, in individuals without with diabetes, associations carotid distensibility coefficient carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity diameters flicker light‐induced dilation adjusted for cardiovascular lifestyle risk factors. Results The diameter population consisted N = 2434 participants (51.4% men, mean ± SD age 59.8 8.1 years, 28.1% diabetes). No measures stiffness were significantly associated diameters. Greater (i.e., lower stiffness) was greater arteriolar (per standard deviation, standardized beta [95% CI] 0.06 [0.00; 0.12]) non‐significantly, but directionally similarly, venular (0.04 [−0.02; 0.10]). Carotid‐femoral aortic not dilation. between two‐ threefold stronger diabetes than those without. Conclusion In this carotid, aortic, worse association diabetes. Hence, may be dysfunction.