Hypertension ups risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes

Hypertensive patients have a higher risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) than their nonhypertensive counterparts, a study has shown. Such risk does not differ between patients with controlled hypertension, uncontrolled hypertension or apparent therapy-resistant hypertension (aTRH).

Of the patients, 45 percent had controlled hypertension, 20 percent had uncontrolled hypertension, 5.7 percent had aTRH, and 29 percent were nonhypertensive.

A total of 705 new cases of T2DM were recorded during a follow-up of 7.0 years (interquartile range, 0–14). The risk of new-onset T2DM was higher by 1.48 times (95 percent confidence interval, 1.22–1.80) in patients with vs without hypertension. No significant difference in risk was seen among various hypertension groups.

This study sought to determine whether the association between hypertension and T2DM was different for patients with uncontrolled hypertension, controlled hypertension or aTRH compared with those without hypertension.

Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the risk of new-onset T2DM in 8,756 patients who were at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Hypertensive patients were subdivided according to blood pressure (BP) and use of BP-lowering drugs.

Uncontrolled BP was defined as BP ≥140/90 mm Hg. ATRH was defined as uncontrolled BP despite being treated with at least three BP-lowering drugs, including a diuretic, or the use of at least four BP-lowering drugs irrespective of BP levels.

The authors conducted further analysis to assess the risk of new-onset T2DM for patients with uncontrolled hypertension and for those with aTRH compared with patients with controlled hypertension and without hypertension, respectively.