Bernd K, et al. - In a population-based cohort study in Germany (the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study) with 4,814 participants aged 45-75 years, researchers examined the link between HbA1c and ankle-brachial index (ABI; a marker of atherosclerosis and a diagnostic criterion for peripheral arterial disease [PAD]) in patients with and without diabetes. Assessments for ABI were performed at baseline, at 5- and 10-year follow-up. This analysis did not include subjects with ABI <0.9, ABI >1.4 or self-reported PAD at baseline. They used logistic and linear regression models. The reference group included patients without diabetes (HbA1c < 5.7%). Total participants for this study were 3,199. In poorly vs well-controlled diabetes, a stronger decline in ABI was evident. Over 10 years, no increased decline in ABI was exhibited by subjects with newly detected diabetes diagnosed by the new HbA1c criterion (≥6.5%).