DETERMINANTS AND ASSOCIATIONS OF COMMON CAROTID INTIMA-MEDIA ROUGHNESS IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION AND TYPE 2 DIABETES

Abstract

Objective: Carotid atherosclerosis, including increased intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque, is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. The role of the irregularity of the carotid intima-media surface in terms of total CV risk has been insufficiently investigated. This study investigated determinants and associations of common carotid intima-media roughness in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Design and method: Adults with type-2 diabetes and hypertension were evaluated with (i) 24h ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring (20 min intervals, Microlife WatchBPO3), (ii) carotid ultrasonography for the calculation of the common carotid IMT (use of automated software that allows the calculation of the average value of multiple measurements), carotid plaque score (CPS), and standard deviation (SD) of the common carotid intima-media (derived for the multiple measurements performed for the calculation of the IMT), and (iii) ultrasound estimation of left ventricular mass index (LVMI). Results: Ninety-five individuals were analyzed [age 66.3±8.9 years, 61 men, body mass index (BMI) 30.8±4.8 kg/m2, HbA1c 6.6±0.8%, 24-hour ABP (systolic/diastolic) 123±13/69.4±7.3 mmHg, IMT 0.83±0.16 mm, SD IMT 0.07±0.03 mm, CPS 5.5±4.8 mm]. SD IMT was correlated with IMT (r=0.49, p<0.001), nighttime systolic ABP (r=0.21, p<0.05), 24h weighted SD of systolic ABP (r=0.26, p<0.05), CPS (r=0.30, p<0.01) and LVMI (r=0.39, p<0.001). In stepwise multivariable regression analysis with age, nighttime systolic ABP, 24h weighted SD of systolic ABP, total number of IMT measurements and IMT as independent variables, the SD IMT was determined by IMT (β=0.08, p<0.001) and 24h weighted SD of systolic ABP (β=0.003, p<0.05). Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that in patients with type-2 diabetes and hypertension, carotid intima-media roughness is determined by IMT and the variability of 24h systolic ABP, and is associated with the severity of carotid atherosclerosis and left ventricular hypertrophy.