Cardiovascular Diabetology (Oct 2012)

Determinants of vascular function in patients with type 2 diabetes

  • Naka Katerina K,
  • Papathanassiou Katerina,
  • Bechlioulis Aris,
  • Kazakos Nikolaos,
  • Pappas Konstantinos,
  • Tigas Stelios,
  • Makriyiannis Dimitrios,
  • Tsatsoulis Agathocles,
  • Michalis Lampros K

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2840-11-127
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
p. 127

Abstract

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Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is independently associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases that is primarily due to the early development of advanced atherosclerotic vascular changes. The aim of our study was to investigate the predictors of vascular dysfunction in T2DM patients. Methods We studied 165 T2DM patients without known macrovascular or microvascular disease. Standard demographic (age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors, medications), clinical (body mass index, blood pressure) and laboratory (glucose, glycated hemoglobin, lipids, renal function) parameters were included in analyses. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), nitrate mediated dilation (NMD) and Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) were measured. Results Median age was 66 years and duration since T2DM diagnosis was 10 years, 70% were females and 79% hypertensives, while only 10% had a glycated hemoglobin Conclusions In T2DM patients, impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilation was independently associated only with longer diabetes duration while no association with other established risk factors was found. Vascular smooth muscle dysfunction and increased arterial stiffness were more prominent in older T2DM patients with hypertension. Worse glycemic control was associated with impaired vascular smooth muscle function.

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