Aim. We investigated the relationship between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV)
and glucose levels, insulin sensitivity, and beta-cell function in Chinese individuals with or
without hypertension. Methods. We recruited 3137 nondiabetic individuals whose age, body mass index (BMI),
glucose levels, blood pressure (BP), lipids, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), baPWV, and insulin levels
were measured. Results. In normotensive group, 2 h glucose levels (β = 0.046, P < 0.001) associated with baPWV, showed a significant increase in patients with NG as compared to those with DM (P = 0.032). The hypertensive group showed no such differences. The Matsuda index (β = 0.114, P < 0.001) and HOMA-β (β = 0.045, P < 0.001) were negatively correlated with baPWV while lnHOMA-IR (β = 0.196, P = 0.076) and the Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) (β = 0.226, P = 0.046) showed a borderline negative correlation. BaPWV significantly decreased (P = 0.032) with an increase in insulin sensitivity in individuals with both normal BP and glucose tolerance. Conclusions. BaPWV was significantly associated with 2 h glucose levels, insulin sensitivity and
beta-cell function in normotensive population, whereas in hypertensive individuals, BP was the
dominant factor influencing arterial stiffness. Individuals with abnormal insulin sensitivity in the
absence of diabetes and hypertension are also at an increased risk of arterial stiffness.