Assessment of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients with Microalbuminuria by High-Frequency Ultrasonography

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate carotid atherosclerosis in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with microalbuminuria (MA) by high-frequency ultrasonography. Two hundred and fifty patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus were divided into two groups according to urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER): normoalbuminuria group (130 cases) and microalbuminuria group (120 cases). The intimal-medial thickness (IMT) and the atherosclerotic plaques of carotid artery were observed in both groups by high-frequency ultrasound. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c, and lipid profiles were measured. The values of IMT of microalbuminuria group were significantly higher than those of normoalbuminuria group (P<0.05). In univariate analysis, IMT was positively and significantly associated with age (r=0.265, P<0.05), waist circumference (r=0.263, P<0.05), body mass index (r=0.285, P<0.05), systolic blood pressure (r=0.276, P<0.05), UAER (r=0.359, P<0.05), HbA1c (r=0.462, P<0.05) and, duration of diabetes (r=0.370, P<0.05). In multivariate linear regression analysis, UAER and HbA1c were independent predictors of IMT (P<0.05 for all). In the two groups, the rate of soft plaques was higher than that of dense plaques and calcified plaques. In conclusion, there is a significant association between microalbuminuria and IMT which is regarded as the early sign of carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients.