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Objective: Several studies have demonstrated a significant association between the presence of the ear lobe crease (ELC) and cardiovascular disease. Advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs) can affect the structures and functions of proteins and contribute to the development of diabetic complications. However, few studies have reported the relationship between AGEs and ELC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of skin autofluorescence (SAF)‐AGEage (SAF‐AGEs × age/100) with ELC. Methods: This cross‐sectional study enrolled 6500 eligible participants from two communities in Beijing. Skin autofluorescence (SAF) was used to measure skin AGEs (SAF‐AGEs). SAF‐AGEage was defined as AGEs × age/100. Binary logistic regression analysis and linear regression analysis nested in logistic models were applied to test outcomes. Results: The overall prevalence of ELC with an average age of 62.7 years participants was 57.1% (n = 3714). Age, fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, and lipoprotein cholesterol were all greater in participants with ELC. ELC‐positive participants had higher prevalence of coronary heart disease. Logistic analysis showed a significantly positive relationship between quartiles of SAF‐AGEage and ELC (odds ratio [OR] 1.526, 95% CI 1.324–1.759; OR 2.072, CI 1.791–2.396; and OR 2.983, CI 2.551–3.489) for the multivariate‐adjusted models, respectively. Stratified research revealed that those with a history of diabetes, hypertension, or coronary heart disease experienced the connection between SAF‐AGEage and ELC. Conclusion: ELC is associated with coronary heart disease, and the SAF‐AGE has a potential role in ELC development in elder people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although diabetes is associated with hypertension, whether high blood glucose levels promote hypertension remains controversial. In this study we compared the predictive power of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h postprandial blood glucose (2hPG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) for the development of hypertension. Methods: This study was a substudy of the REACTION study, an ongoing longitudinal cohort study investigating the relationship of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes with the risk of cancer in an urban Northern Chinese population in Beijing. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) after adjustment for risk factors for hypertension, including age, sex, body mass index, and triglycerides. Results: Among the 3437 participants, 497 developed hypertension during the 4-year follow-up. The logistic regression analysis showed that elevated FPG and 2hPG levels (FPG: OR 1.529; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.348–1.735; 2hPG: OR 1.144; 95% CI 1.100–1.191), but not HbA1c, were independent risk factors for the development of hypertension. In the highest quartile of FPG and 2hPG levels, the multivariable-corrected ORs were 2.115 (95% CI 1.612–2.777) and 2.346 (95% CI 1.787–3.080), respectively, compared with the lowest quartile. The adjusted models showed no significant correlations between quartile HbA1c levels and the development of hypertension. Conclusion: Higher FPG and 2hPG levels, but not HbA1c levels, are independent risk factors for developing hypertension in an urban Northern Chinese population. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01206869. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]