Plasma copeptin levels are inversely associated with intima-media-thickness in men: the population-based KORA F4 study

Background: Elevated plasma preprovasopressin (copeptin) levels are
associated with cardiovascular complications as well as with an
increased risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here, we studied, whether
plasma copeptin is related to carotid intima-media thickness (IMT),
a measure of early atherosclerosis, and may thus be one explanation
for the high cardiovascular risk in T2D. Methods: Plasma
concentrations of copeptin and IMT of the common carotid artery
were determined in 1275 participants of the population-based KORA
F4 study. We used linear regression models to investigate
associations between copeptin levels and IMT. Results: In the whole
study group, copeptin levels were not significantly associated with
IMT after adjustment for age and sex. Copeptin and IMT were
significantly inversely associated after multivariable adjustment
in the total cohort (beta = -0.020 mm, 95\% CI: -0.037 mm; -0.003
mm), in men (beta = -0.035 mm, 95\% CI: -0.061 mm; -0.009 mm) and
in study participants with prediabetes (beta = -0.041 mm, 95\% CI:
-0.078 mm; -0.005 mm) comparing quartile 4 vs quartile 1. The
negative association of copeptin and IMT in men was present after
adjustment for age alone. In women and patients with T2D, copeptin
was not significantly associated with IMT. Conclusions: Plasma
copeptin was not associated with an increased IMT in our study
cohort. In contrast, copeptin levels were related to a lower IMT in
men and subjects with prediabetes, suggesting that elevated
copeptin concentrations do not exert proatherogenic effects on
carotid arteries.