Effect of Hypertension on the Carotid Artery Intima Media Thickness (IMT) in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - Across Sectional Study

OBJECTIVES: To measure the additional effect of hypertension on the carotid artery (IMT) in type 2 diabetics. PATIENTSANDMETHOD: Cross sectional study, from 1st July 2012 to 30th December 2013, was conducted on 152 participants, 43 diabetes group 59 diabetes plus hypertension group and 50 healthy control persons, who were visiting the National Diabetes Center (NDC) / Al-Mustansiriya University, for periodic follow up and their healthy relatives. RESULTS:The differences between mean of the three groups for age, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C and LDL-C were statistically significant. The mean differences in carotid artery (IMT) of mean of left and right common carotid artery between the three groups were statistically significant. The mean carotid artery (IMT) observed in diabetes group and diabetes plus hypertension group showed apparent increased by 24.81% and 31.69% respectively which were more than that of healthy control group. The net percentage of increase attributable to hypertension on mean carotid artery IMT was 6.88%. Effect size analysis showed an increased effect of diabetes and diabetes plus hypertension on mean carotid artery IMT, Cohen’s (d) 1.200 and 1.741 respectively. CONCLUSIONS:Diabetes and hypertension increase the carotid artery IMT independently. Coexistent hypertension with diabetes has an additive effect on the carotid artery IMT.