Squatting amplifies pulse pressure increase with disease duration in patients with type 1 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate pulse pressure changes according to duration of type 1 diabetes and to assess the influence of posture.


METHODS
We performed continuous measurement of blood pressure with a Finapres device during a 3 x 1 min posture test (standing, squatting, standing) in 159 type 1 diabetic patients divided into four groups according to diabetes duration (<or=10, 11-20, 21-30, and >30 years, groups 1-4, respectively) and compared the results with those of age-matched nondiabetic subjects.


RESULTS
Pulse pressure progressively increased according to type 1 diabetes duration (P < 0.0001), especially in women, but not in age-matched nondiabetic subjects (NS). Pulse-pressure increase from group 1 to group 4 was amplified in the squatting position (from 50 +/- 17 to 69 +/- 14 mmHg) compared with standing (from 44 +/- 15 to 55 +/- 12 mmHg).


CONCLUSIONS
Pulse pressure increases according to type 1 diabetes duration more in women than in men, and the squatting position sensitizes such pulse-pressure increase in both sexes.
Philips
Jean-Christophe
JC
Division of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders, Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sart Tilman, University of Liége, Liège, Belgium.
Marchand
Monique
M
Scheen
André J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D011187:Posture; D011674:Pulse; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics