Blood pressure and all-cause mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes

• We performed a prospective study including 35,261 patients with type 2 diabetes.
• Our study subjects represented a real clinical population with low income.
• A U-shaped association of blood pressure with death was found among diabetic patients.
• We suggested that the lowest risk of all-cause mortality was observed at 130–150 mm Hg for SBP and 80–90 mm Hg for DBP.

BackgroundThe recommended goal for blood pressure (BP) control has recently been adjusted for people with diabetes, but the optimal BP control range for the diabetic population is still uncertain.MethodsWe performed a prospective cohort study of 35,261 patients with type 2 diabetes. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate the association of BP with all-cause mortality.ResultsDuring a mean follow-up period of 8.7 years, 4199 deaths were identified. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios of all-cause mortality associated with different levels of systolic/diastolic BP (< 110/65, 110–119/65–69, 120–129/70–80, 130–139/80–90 [reference group], 140–159/90–100, and ≥ 160/100 mm Hg) were 1.70 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42–2.04), 1.26 (95% CI 1.07–1.50), 0.99 (95% CI 0.86–1.12), 1.00, 0.92 (95% CI 0.82–1.03), and 1.10 (95% CI 0.98–1.23) using baseline BP measurements, and 2.62 (95% CI 2.00–3.44), 1.77 (95% CI 1.51–2.09), 1.22 (95% CI 1.09–1.36), 1.00, 0.90 (95% CI 0.82–1.00), and 0.98 (95% CI 0.86–1.12) using an updated mean value of BP during follow-up, respectively. The U-shaped associations were confirmed in both African American and white patients, in both men and women, in those who were or were not taking antihypertensive drugs, and in patients aged 30–49 years and 50–59 years.ConclusionsThe current study found a U-shaped association between BP at baseline and during follow-up and the risk of all-cause mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes.