Association between creatinine-to-body weight ratio and arterial stiffness: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study in the Chinese population

Few studies have explored the relationship between the creatinine-to-body weight ratio (Cre/BW) and arterial stiffness. Consequently, this research aimed to investigate the association in the Chinese population. This investigation used data from the Asymptomatic Polyvascular Abnormalities Community (APAC) study, where brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured. After a 2-year follow-up period, 1,651 individuals participated in the longitudinal analysis, among whom 464 people had baPWV ≥1,400 cm/s. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was employed to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of arterial stiffness. The findings from both the cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were largely in agreement, with the fully adjusted ORs in the highest tertile of the Cre/BW ratio being 1.36 (95% CI, 1.21-1.64) and 2.09 (95% CI, 1.52-2.87), respectively. Restricted cubic splines (RCS) analyses revealed a J-shaped associated in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Subgroup analysis showed that the associations were stronger in participants younger than 60 years (1.40; 95% CI, 1.15-1.71, <i>P</i> _int = 0.0481). In the cross-sectional analysis, the optimal cutoff value of the Cre/BW ratio to predict arterial stiffness was 1.25, while in the longitudinal analysis, it was 1.29, with corresponding Youden indices of 6.7% and 11%. The study suggested that the Cre/BW ratio was positively associated with the risk of arterial stiffness in Chinese adults.