Influence of remnant cholesterol levels on carotid intima thickness in type 2 diabetes patients

Abstract

Investigate the impact of remnant cholesterol (RC) levels on carotid artery intima thickness (CIT) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. From September 2021 to September 2023, a prospective multicenter study involved 158 T2DM patients. They were divided into a higher RC group (n = 80) and a lower RC group (n = 78) based on median RC levels. Additionally, 92 healthy volunteers served as the control group. CIT, carotid media thickness (CMT), and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were measured. General clinical data, lab results, CIMT, CIT, and CMT differences among the three groups were compared. Multiple regression analysis explored CIT factors in T2DM patients. 1. No significant sex, age, BMI, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), T2DM duration, fasting blood glucose, or glycated hemoglobin differences were found among the groups (p > 0.05). 2. CIMT and CIT were significantly higher in T2DM than the control group (p < 0.05). 3. The higher RC group had thicker CIT than the lower RC group (p < 0.05), while CIMT differences were not significant (p > 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed RC as an influencing CIT factor in T2DM patients (β = 0.473, p = 0.005). CIT is significantly thicker in T2DM patients with higher RC than in those with lower RC, and RC is the influence factor of CIT, which suggests that more attention should be paid to the detection of RC in T2DM patients.