Increasing SBP variability is associated with an increased risk of

Researchers assessed the link between increased SBP variability and incident diabetic foot ulceration risk in 51,111 cases and 129,247 controls. Cases were patients diagnosed with diabetes and treated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare system for development of a diabetic foot ulcer (event) between 2006 and 2010; on the basis of age, sex, race/ethnicity, and calendar time, each case was randomly matched to up to five controls. Higher adjusted odds ratios for diabetic foot ulcer development were observed in patients in quartiles 2-4 vs those in quartile 1 (lowest variability). In adjusted subgroup analyses, reduced risks of ulceration were observed in association with calcium channel blockers for those without peripheral vascular disease or neuropathy. Overall, a graded link between SBP variability and diabetic foot ulceration risk was shown.