Analysis of stability-related risk factors for carotid plaques in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objective To investigate the carotid plaque conditions and clinical commonly used test events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to explore the risk factors affecting the stability of plaques in carotid artery. Methods According to the results of cervical vascular color Doppler ultrasound examination, 125 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were divided into unstable plaque group (n=21), stable plaque group (n=54), and non-plaque group (n=50). Analysis related results including age, gender, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), intima-media thickness (IMT), fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), uric acid (UA), fibrinogen (Fbg), D-dimer (D-D), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were analyzed. Results Age, gender, SBP, DBP, TG, HDL, D-D, and TSH were without significant differences among groups. Glucose and Fbg were significant different (P<0.05) between unstable plague group and stable plaque group/no plaque group. No significance difference was found between stable and no plaque groups. IMT, TC, LDL, and FT4 were significant different (P<0.05) between unstable and stable plaque groups, and between stable and no plaque groups. Logistic multiple regression analysis suggested that IMT and TC might be independent risk factors for the stability of plaques in carotid artery of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (P<0.05). Conclusions The factors affecting formation of plaques in carotid artery include glucose level, TC, and LDL in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The factors affecting its stability include thickness of IMT, TC, LDL, and FT4. IMT and TC were the independent risk factors for the stability of plaques in carotid artery. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Carotid artery diseases; Risk factors