A novel echocardiographic method for the detection of subclinical atherosclerosis in newly diagnosed, untreated type 2 diabetes.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Diabetes accelerates the natural process of atherosclerosis and is a predictor for progression of atherosclerotic lesions. To improve clinical outcomes, noninvasive imaging modalities have been proposed to measure and monitor atherosclerosis. Recently, it has been shown that the color M-mode-derived propagation velocity of the descending thoracic aorta (aortic velocity propagation [AVP]) was associated with coronary and carotid atherosclerosis.

METHODS:

Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and AVP were measured in 72 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and 44 healthy people. Individuals who had previously used oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin treatment or had a history of hyperlipidemia, cigarette smoking, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease were excluded from this study.

RESULTS:

Compared with control group, patients with type 2 diabetes had significantly lower AVP (39.9 ± 6.5 vs. 58.4 ± 6.7 cm/sec, P < 0.001) and higher CIMT (1.1 ± 0.1 vs. 0.95 ± 0.12 mm, P < 0.001) measurements. There were significant correlations between AVP and CIMT (r = -0.835, P < 0.001), AVP and fasting plasma glucose (r = -0.796, P < 0.001)), AVP and HbA1 c (r = -0918 P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Diabetes mellitus may be associated with subclinical atherosclerosis assessed by measurement of AVP and CIMT. These simple methods might improve patient selection for primary prevention atherosclerotic progression.

• Authors: Hakki Simsek, Musa Sahin, Yilmaz Gunes, Adnan Dogan, Hasan Ali Gumrukcuoglu, Mustafa Tuncer
• Journal: Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) (Echocardiography) Vol. 30 Issue 6 Pg. 644-8 (Jul 2013) ISSN: 1540-8175 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23347332 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2013, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Topics

• Atherosclerosis (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology)
• Comorbidity
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology)
• Diabetic Angiopathies (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology)
• Echocardiography (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted (methods)
• Incidence
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Reproducibility of Results
• Risk Assessment (methods)
• Risk Factors
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Turkey (epidemiology)