| Summary: | The "first study" compared 3 methods of assessing arterial stiffness and found that: each method of assessment was comparable to the other and that reproducibility was similar throughout the systems. Since there are conflicting data associated with arterial stiffness and type-2 diabetes, the "second study" therefore assessed arterial stiffness, using pulse wave analysis and pulse wave velocity and found there to be increased arterial stiffness in a group of type-2 diabetics compared to healthy controls. The second study also found that South Asians had significantly lower arterial stiffness in the femoral vascular bed compared to the Caucasians. Although diabetes is known to increase arterial stiffness, the effect of impaired fasting glucose on arterial stiffness is unclear. The effect of impaired fasting glucose on arterial stiffness has therefore been investigated in the "third study" and the findings demonstrate that individuals with impaired fasting glucose have increased arterial stiffness compared to individuals with normal fasting glucose. Similar findings were observed when comparing diabetics and individuals with normoglycaemia. Finally, therapeutic intervention targeted at increased arterial stiffness should be of benefit in reducing the prevalence of cardiovascular disease. The "fourth study" has therefore also examined the effect of regular aerobic exercise on arterial stiffness and found that in older individuals, arterial stiffness was significantly lower in a group of individuals who exercised regularly compared to sedentary controls. Therefore, suggesting the potential benefit of aerobic exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention to decrease arterial stiffness and cardiovascular disease.
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