Relationship between type-2 diabetes mellitus and artery atherosclerosis in the elderly

Objective To investigate the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus and carotid atherosclerosis in elderly patients and its clinical significance. Methods The data of 151 elderly patients with diabetes mellitus were collected, including 75 patients with carotid atherosclerosis (diabetes+ arteriosclerosis), 76 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, using Chi-square test, t-test and Logistic regression analysis, to analyze the correlation between carotid atherosclerosis and various factors. Results Diabetes + arteriosclerosis group compared with the simple diabetic group, diabetes duration, prevalence of hypertension, BMI, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDC-C) were elevated[(12.2±6.0)years vs. (10.2±5.7)years, 85% vs. 55%, (25.4±2.9)kg/m2 vs.(23.7±3.4)kg/m2, (1.8±1.1)mmol/L vs. (1.4±0.8)mmol/L, (2.9±0.8)mmol/L vs.(2.5±0.8)mmol/L], while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol[(1.1±0.3)mmol/L vs. (1.3±0.3)mmol/L] was decreased cholesterol, the difference was statistically significant. There was close correlation of carotid plaques with LDL-C (regression coefficient B=5.913, P=0.001), history of hypertension (regression coefficient B=1.430, P=0.004) and BMI (regression coefficient B=0.172, P=0.019), this correlation was independent of gender, age, diabetes history and blood glucose levels. Conclusions Hypertension, body mass index and LDL-C are closely correlation with to carotid atherosclerosis in T2DM. Control of hypertension, body mass index and lipid levels can help to reduce the development of atherosclerosis in elderly patients with T2DM, it has important clinical significance for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Key words: Diabetes mellitus type 2; Elderly; Atherosclerosis