Abstract

BACKGROUND
Diabetes mellitus is a major independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. In recent years non-invasive high resolution B-mode ultrasound methods have been developed to measure the IMT (intima-media thickness) of the carotid artery as an index for early atherosclerosis. The aims of this study were to measure IMT in type 2 diabetic patients, to investigate the relation of various cardiovascular risk factors to IMT, and to evaluate the difference in IMT according to presence of diabetic complication. METHODS: IMT was measured by ultrasound B-mode imaging in 300 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (131 male, 169 female adults aged 53.4+/-9.5 years, duration of diabetes 7.4+/-6.3 years). All subjects underwent coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors assessment and the presence of diabetic complications were evaluated. RESULT: There were positive correlations between IMT and age, duration of diabetes, LDL-C, systolic blood pressure and Lp (a) level. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that in type 2 diabetic patients, the variables that interact independently with IMT were age, systolic blood pressure, levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and sex. IMT was significantly increased in type 2 diabetic patients with macrovascular complication regardless of presence of microvascular complication. But there was no significant difference in IMT according to Lp (a) level, presence of microalbuminuria, mode of treatment and glycemic control. CONCLUSION: The Intima-Media thickness of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was associated with age, systolic blood pressure, levels of total cholesterol, HDL-C and sex.

• Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus;Atherosclerosis;IMT (intima-media thickness);