Cardiovascular risk is linked to body mass index in first‑degree relatives of type 2 diabetics
Abstract
Although cardiovascular (CV) risks are reported in first‑degree relatives (FDR) of type 2 diabetics, the pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to these risks are not known. We investigated the association of CV risks with body mass index (BMI) in these subjects. BMI, basal heart rate (BHR), blood pressure (BP), and rate‑pressure product (RPP) were measured and analyzed in age‑matched subjects of study group (FDR of type 2 diabetics, n = 58) and control group (subjects with no family history of diabetes, n = 92). BMI, BP, BHR, and RPP were significantly increased (P < 0.0001) in the study group compared to the control group. Sympathovagal imbalance in the study group was due to concomitant sympathetic activation and vagal inhibition. Bivariate logistic regression showed significant prediction (odds ratio: 2.12, confidence interval: 1.120–5.317, P = 0.009) of BMI to increased RPP, the marker of CV risk, in the study group, but not in the control group. CV risk in FDR of type 2 diabetics is linked to BMI.