Association between serum β2‐microglobulin and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background Beta 2‐microglobulin (β2‐MG) is a component of the class I major histocompatibility complex (MHCI) and has recently been reported to be involved in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease. However, the association of β2‐MG with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in T2DM patients remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the correlation between serum β2‐MG and LVH in T2DM patients. Methods The retrospective analysis included 4602 eligible T2DM patients, divided into LVH and non‐LVH groups based on echocardiography results. Serum β2‐MG levels were measured, and participants were categorized into four groups (Q1–Q4) by their serum β2‐MG quartile. The relationship of serum β2‐MG level with LVH was evaluated using logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS), subgroup analysis, and machine learning. Results The prevalence of LVH in T2DM patients was 31.12%. Each standard deviation increase in serum β2‐MG level corresponded to a 1.17‐fold increase in the prevalence of LVH [OR = 1.17, (95% CI: 1.05–1.31); p = 0.006]. When considering β2‐MG as a categorical variable (quartile), Q3 [OR = 1.36, (95% CI: 1.09–1.69); p = 0.007] and Q4 [OR = 1.77, (95% CI: 1.36–2.31); p < 0.001] had a significantly higher prevalence of LVH than Q1. RCS analysis found a nonlinear association between β2‐MG and LVH prevalence (p for nonlinearity <0.05). Additionally, machine learning results confirmed the importance of β2‐MG for LVH in T2DM patients. Conclusion Elevated serum β2‐MG levels were likely to be associated with an increased prevalence of LVH in T2DM patients, suggesting its potential role in LVH development.

Keywords

• Beta 2‐microglobulin
• left ventricular hypertrophy
• type 2 diabetes mellitus