Longitudinal association between body weight change and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with treated hypertension or diabetes mellitus: A post hoc analysis of the FMD-J study B

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Modest longitudinal changes in body weight were not significantly associated with changes in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity over 3 years (β = -1.2 cm/s per percentage point, p=0.08).

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: Hypertension or diabetes mellitus (n=874). Intervention: Body weight change vs. No body weight change. Primary outcome: Longitudinal changes in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) (β = -1.2, 95% CI -2.6 to 0.2, p=0.08).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Modest longitudinal changes in body weight are not significantly associated with changes in arterial stiffness measured by brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity over 3 years in patients with treated hypertension or diabetes mellitus. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Tatsuya Maruhashi; Masato Kajikawa; Shinji Kishimoto; Takayuki Yamaji; Takahiro Harada; Aya Mizobuchi; Farina Mohamad Yusoff; Yukiko Nakano; Yukihito Higashi

doi:10.1038/s41440-026-02849-5

October 19, 2026Hypertension ResearchOpen Access

Longitudinal association between body weight change and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with treated hypertension or diabetes mellitus: A post hoc analysis of the FMD-J study B

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Key result

Modest longitudinal weight changes are not associated with changes in arterial stiffness over 3 years.

β = -1.2
95% CI -2.6 to 0.2
P=0.08
n=874

Why the study?

The longitudinal association between body weight change and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with treated hypertension or diabetes mellitus was unclear.

Does body weight change affect longitudinal changes in brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with treated hypertension or diabetes mellitus?

Key Points

To examine cross-sectional associations between body mass index and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity, and longitudinal associations between body weight change and arterial stiffness over 3 years in patients with treated hypertension or diabetes mellitus.
Analyzed 874 patients with treated hypertension or diabetes mellitus without coronary artery disease (475 men; mean age, 61.9 ± 9.5 years) enrolled in the FMD-J study B.
Measured brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) at baseline, 1.5 years (n = 770), and 3 years (n = 714).
Assessed longitudinal relationships using generalized linear mixed-effects models adjusted for time-varying systolic blood pressure, heart rate, metabolic markers, and baseline medication use.
Continuous percentage body weight change was not significantly associated with longitudinal changes in baPWV in fully adjusted mixed models (β = −1.2 cm/s per percentage point; 95% CI, −2.6 to 0.2; P = 0.08).
Categorical weight change of ≥5% increase (β = −10.6 cm/s; 95% CI, −38.1 to 16.8; P = 0.45) or ≥5% decrease (β = 18.0 cm/s; 95% CI, −6.7 to 42.7; P = 0.15) showed no significant association with baPWV changes, with no interaction across baseline BMI categories (P = 0.84).

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=874)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Does body weight change affect longitudinal changes in brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with treated hypertension or diabetes mellitus?

P

Population

874 patients aged 20 to 74 years with treated hypertension or diabetes mellitus and no history of coronary artery disease, followed for 3 years.

E

Exposure

Body weight change (continuous percentage change and categorical ≥5% increase or decrease)

O

Outcome

Longitudinal changes in brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) over 3 yearssurrogate

Main Result

Effect estimate: β = -1.2 (95% CI -2.6 to 0.2)

p-value: p=0.08

Modest changes in body weight over a 3-year period are not significantly associated with longitudinal changes in arterial stiffness measured by baPWV after accounting for concurrent blood pressure and heart rate.

Limitations

Observational study design means residual confounding cannot be excluded.
Follow-up period was limited to 3 years.
Study population consisted of patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus without CAD, limiting generalizability.
Body weight and BMI do not distinguish changes in fat mass, lean mass, or visceral adiposity.
Relatively small number of participants in the BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² subgroup resulted in wide confidence intervals.
Magnitude of body weight change was modest in many participants, which may have limited the ability to detect small associations.
Observational study with potential residual confounding
Follow-up limited to 3 years
Limited generalizability (Japanese patients with treated hypertension or diabetes without CAD)
Inability to distinguish changes in fat mass, lean mass, or visceral adiposity
Small number of participants in the BMI ≥30 kg/m² subgroup
Modest magnitude of body weight change in the cohort

Implication

Modest weight changes were not associated with baPWV progression in treated hypertension or diabetes; leaves open effects of larger shifts or other populations.

Abstract

We investigated cross-sectional associations between body mass index (BMI) and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and longitudinal associations between body weight change and baPWV over 3 years in 874 patients with treated hypertension or diabetes mellitus without coronary artery disease (475 men; mean age, 61.9 ± 9.5 years). baPWV was measured at baseline, 1.5 years, and 3 years. At baseline, BMI was inversely correlated with baPWV ( r = −0.14, P < 0.001), and multivariate analysis confirmed this association (β = −12.5, P < 0.001). In generalized linear mixed-effects models adjusted for concurrent systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and other covariates, neither continuous percentage change in body weight (β = −1.2, P = 0.08) nor categorical body weight change (≥5% increase: β = −10.6, P = 0.45; ≥5% decrease: β = 18.0, P = 0.15) was associated with longitudinal changes in baPWV, with no interaction across baseline BMI categories. The modest body weight changes observed in this cohort were not significantly associated with longitudinal changes in baPWV.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Maruhashi et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Hypertension or diabetes mellitus (n=874). Body weight change vs. No body weight change was evaluated on Longitudinal changes in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) (β = -1.2, 95% CI -2.6 to 0.2, p=0.08). Modest longitudinal changes in body weight were not significantly associated with changes in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity over 3 years (β = -1.2 cm/s per percentage point, p=0.08).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ad5f0d5ceb5f40a576e884b https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-026-02849-5

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Longitudinal association between body weight change and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with treated hypertension or diabetes mellitus: A post hoc analysis of the FMD-J study B

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Longitudinal association between body weight change and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with treated hypertension or diabetes mellitus: A post hoc analysis of the FMD-J study B

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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