A population-based study on hyperinsulinaemia and arterial stiffness in men with and without abdominal aortic aneurysm

Objectives Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) run lower risk for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA, aortic diameter ≥ 30 mm) and its complications. We aimed to evaluate associations between disturbances in glucose metabolism and arterial stiffness, AAA, and abdominal aortic diameter in 65-year-old men. Methods Forty-eight 65-year-old men with screening-detected AAA and 115 men with normal abdominal aortic diameter underwent examination of glucose metabolism and arterial stiffness. Results Men with AAA had higher BMI, waist-hip ratio (WHR), frequency of DM, haemoglobin A 1c , smoking exposure, and plasma insulin levels at 0, 60 and 120 min during OGTT compared to those without. The increase in p-insulin ( P < 0.001) after OGTT was also higher in men with AAA, adjusted for smoking, WHR, and nadir value of p-insulin. In analyses adjusted for smoking, use of lipid-lowering agents, and WHR, the increase in p-insulin at 2-hours ( P = 0.006) after OGTT and p-homocysteine were associated with abdominal aortic diameter. There were no differences between groups in aortic stiffness or skin autofluorescence Advanced Glycation End products. Conclusion In this population-based study hyperinsulinaemia as a marker of insulin resistance, but not hyperglycaemia or aortic stiffness, was associated with AAA and abdominal aortic diameter in 65-year-old men.