Table 1 The clinical characteristics of patients with plasma NT-proBNP below and above our defined cut-off value

Sex no. (male%)

76

78

74

0.51

Age (years)

59 ± 9

55.4 ± 10

61.7 ± 9

0.0001

Known duration of diabetes (years)

13 ± 7

10.8 ± 7

14.6 ± 7

0. 0.001

BMI (kg/m²)

32.6 ± 5.8

32.9 ± 5.6

32.3 ± 5.9

0.48

HbA_1c (%)

7.9 ± 1.3

8.00 ± 1.3

7.7 ± 1.4

0.18

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)

130 ± 17

131 ± 16

130 ± 18

0.55

Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)

75 ± 11

76 ± 10

74 ± 12

0.18

Total cholesterol (mmol/l)

3.9 ± 0.9

4.1 ± 0.9

3.8 ± 1.0

0.032

Plasma creatinine (μmol/l)

76 ± 18

71.9 ± 16

80.6 ± 19

0.001

Haemoglobin (mmol/l)

8.6 ± 0.85

8.8 ± 0.9

8.4 ± 0.9

0.001

Heart rate variability during deep breathing (bpm) *

7 (4.5-11.5)

8 (42-205)

6 (4-10)

0.0001

Vibratory perception threshold mV - mean of both sides

33 ± 15

28.5 ± 14

37.9 ± 14

0.0001

Retinopathy no. (%)

120 (60)

44 (45)

76 (73)

0.0001

Urinary albumin excretion rate (mg/24 h)*

103 (39 - 230)

103 (38 - 491)

101 (38 - 286)

0.70

Peripheral systolic blood pressure (mmHg - worst big toe)

121 ± 34

125 ± 32

117 ± 35

0.35

Carotid intima-media thickness (mm)

0.73 (0.15)

0.71 ± 0.16

0.75 ± 0.14

0.15

Carotid compliance ^a (l/mmHg)

0.0026 ± 0.001

0.0025 ± 0.001

0.0026 ± 0.001

0.30

Coronary Calcium Score*

183 (0-4529)

87 (1-426)

251 (24-872)

0.014

Oral antidiabetic medication no. (%)

170 (85)

85 (89)

85 (82)

0.18

Insulin treatment no. (%)

124 (62)

59(61)

65 (63)

0.88

RAAS blockade no. (%)

196 (98)

94 (98)

102 (98)

0.94

Statin therapy no. (%)

189 (95)

91 (95)

98 (94)

0.82

Aspirin therapy no. (%)

183 (92)

87 (91)

96 (92)

0.80

Beta-blocker therapy no. (%)

27 (14)

4 (4)

23 (22)

0.0001

Calcium channel blockers no. (%)

80 (40)

36 (36)

44 (44)

0.25

Diuretics no. (%)

128 (64)

56 (58)

72 (69)

0.11