Serum copeptin and NT-proBNP is associated with central aortic stiffness and flow hemodynamics in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: A pilot study

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of mortality in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Biomarkers, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and copeptin have been linked with measures of CVD, but their relationship in adolescents with T1D remains incompletely understood. Accordingly, we examined the associations between NT-proBNP and copeptin and hemodynamic markers of central aortic stiffness in adolescents with T1D. In this pilot study, forty-nine pubertal adolescents with T1D (mean age 17 ± 2 years, median [Q1-Q3] Tanner Stage 5 [5, 5] and HbA1c 8.5 ± 1.5%), from the EMERALD study, were assessed for copeptin and NT-proBNP, and indices of central aortic stiffness non-invasively assessed by MRI. Pearson correlations and generalized linear regression models, adjusting for confounders, were applied to examine the relationships between biomarkers and vascular measures. Copeptin correlated independently with both ascending aortic (AA) (β ± SE: −4.28 ± 1.87, p = 0.03) and descending aortic (DA) relative area change (RAC) (−3.41 ± 1.55, p = 0.04). NT-proBNP was independently associated with DA time-averaged wall shear stress (WSSTA) (0.87 ± 0.25, p = 0.001) and DA maximum wall shear stress (WSSmax) (2.45 ± 1.00, p = 0.02). Serum copeptin and NT-proBNP may be associated with central aortic stiffness and elevated WSS in youth with T1D, potentially offering a non-invasive way to identify and monitor the development of early CVD in an at-risk population. •Copeptin associated with central aortic stiffness in type 1 diabetes.•NT-proBNP associated with abnormal wall shear stress in type 1 diabetes.•Biomarkers offer a potential target for risk-stratification in type 1 diabetes.