Determinants of blood pressure in type 2 diabetic subjects with high occurrence of inadequate glycemic control

Abstract

Study design: Association studyObjective: To analyze the association between different biological/behavioral risk factors and bloodpressure in a sample of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with poor glycemic control. Methods: A sampleof 121 type 2 diabetic patients was selected in the Public Healthcare System in a middle size Braziliancity. Blood pressure was measured using an aneroid device, previously calibrated. Six determinants ofblood pressure were taken into count: age, hypoglycemic agents, general obesity, abdominal obesity,eating behaviors and physical activity level. Results: The type 2 diabetic patients presented mean age of60.1±8.9 years-old and, at least, one risk factor. Eating behaviors (ORadj= 0.31 [0.12-0.75]) and sportspractice (ORadj= 0.12 [0.02-0.75]) constituted protective factors associated with lower systolic blood pressure. On the other hand, age was positively associated with high systolic blood pressure (ORadj= 3.81[1.39-10.38]). Patients with 5-6 risk factors, presented higher values of systolic and (F= 3.857; p= 0.011[post hoc with p= 0.039]), diastolic blood pressure (F= 4.158; p= 0.008 [post hoc with p= 0.036]) andincreased occurrence of hypertension (p= 0.010). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that, behavioralvariables were important determinants of blood pressure in type 2 diabetic patients with poor glycemiccontrol and clustering of behavioral and biological risk factors increase the hypertension occurrence.