A study conducted by Chinese researchers suggests that individuals with Type 2 diabetes mellitus who also have high blood pressure may face an increased risk of stroke.
Published in the journal Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, the study, led by the team from the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in China, highlights the association between systolic blood pressure (the top number measuring pressure in arteries when the heart beats) and stroke risk in diabetes patients.
The research, which included 8,282 participants, revealed that over a follow-up period of 6.36 years, 324 individuals (3.91%) experienced any type of stroke, while 305 (3.68%) had nonfatal stroke events.
The findings indicate that cumulative systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure independently predict a heightened risk of stroke among diabetes patients. The study also identified a significant dose-response relationship between cumulative blood pressure and stroke risk, with cumulative systolic blood pressure providing incremental predictive value for stroke compared to baseline assessments.
Diabetes and hypertension represent significant public health challenges globally, with diabetes known to increase the risk of stroke. Diabetic individuals are reported to have a two-to four-fold higher risk of ischemic stroke compared to non-diabetics, along with experiencing prolonged hospital stays, increased disability, and elevated mortality rates.
High blood pressure, a common comorbidity among diabetics, emerges as a major modifiable risk factor for stroke. The study underscores the importance of managing blood pressure levels in diabetes patients to mitigate the risk of stroke and associated complications.
