Brief
Study links highly variable blood pressure and diabetes to sharply higher death risk
UK Biobank data show that blood‑pressure swings, especially in diabetics, predict higher mortality and stroke rates.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Researchers analysing UK Biobank data say people with type 2 diabetes whose systolic blood pressure varied widely across clinic visits faced almost three times the risk of death compared with diabetics whose readings were stable, the study reported on Oct 14, 2026.
What happened
The observational study examined 57,611 participants who had at least two blood‑pressure measurements recorded during the UK Biobank health assessment. The average age at enrolment was 55.4 years and 52 % were women. Researchers calculated the variability of systolic readings between visits and followed participants for a median of 5.1 years. During follow-up, 1,460 participants died, 571 suffered a stroke and 319 were diagnosed with dementia.
What the reports add
According to the article, participants with type 2 diabetes and high systolic variability were 2.8 times more likely to die than those with normal blood sugar and low variability. Those with pre‑diabetes and high variability had a 62 % higher death risk than the same reference group. The study also found that greater variability was associated with increased stroke incidence, though exact stroke‑risk figures were not detailed.
What was said
"Our findings suggest that changes in blood pressure over time may provide information beyond the average blood pressure readings in routine care," said Dr Fariba Ahmadizar of the Department of General Practice at Amsterdam University Medical Centre, as quoted by the source.
How it came about
The analysis builds on earlier work highlighting the health impact of blood‑pressure patterns, such as Felo News’ Oct 10 report on weekly wall‑squat sessions that showed modest exercise can sustain blood‑pressure improvements. The new UK Biobank investigation adds a longitudinal dimension, indicating that not just the level but the stability of systolic pressure matters for long‑term outcomes, especially among people with impaired glucose metabolism.
Key facts
- The study included 57,611 UK Biobank participants with an average age of 55.4 years. (scitechdaily.com)
- Median follow‑up was 5.1 years, during which 1,460 participants died. (scitechdaily.com)
- Type 2 diabetics with high systolic variability had a 2.8‑fold higher mortality risk. (scitechdaily.com)
- Prediabetics with high variability faced a 62 % higher death risk. (scitechdaily.com)
- Higher blood‑pressure variability was also linked to increased stroke risk. (scitechdaily.com)
Sources
- [1] scitechdaily.com — originally reported as “Unstable Blood Pressure Linked to Higher Risk of Death and Stroke”
