Diabetes Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Diabetes, including details on insulin, type i, type ii, diet, treatment, prevention.

Non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors contribute to peripheral arterial disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Bianchi C, Penno G, Pancani F, Civitelli A, Piaggesi A, Caricato F, Pellegrini G, Del Prato S, Miccoli R

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism - Section of Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Pisa, Italy.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in type 2 diabetes and its association with traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 1610 type 2 diabetics PAD was defined as ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI)<0.9. RESULTS: PAD prevalence was 17%, increased with age, diabetes duration, HbA 1c levels, previous CV events. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of traditional CV risk factors between patients with and without PAD. PAD patients had higher levels of fibrinogen (10.88+/-2.32 versus 10.2+/-2.23micromol/L; p<0.0001), uric acid (327.1+/-89.2 versus 315.2+/-83.3micromol/L, p<0.01), pulse pressure (70+/-18 versus 60+/-16mm Hg, p<0.0001), higher rate of microalbuminuria (21.3% versus 13.7%; p<0.05) and lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR, 80.7+/-24 versus 89.9+/-22 ml/min/1.73 m2; p<0.001) than those without. In age-gender-adjusted analysis, smoking (OR 1.5; CI: 1.07-2.2), HbA 1c (OR 1.45; CI: 1.07-2.08), high pulse pressure (OR 2.81; CI: 1.63-4.82), reduced GFR (OR 2.16; CI: 1.4-3.3), microalbuminuria (OR 1.62; CI: 1.11-2.36), high fibrinogen levels (OR 2.03; CI: 1.34-3.07) were associated with PAD. In multivariate analysis age, male sex, smoking, high pulse pressure, low GFR, high fibrinogen levels, previous CV events were independent risk factors for PAD. CONCLUSIONS: PAD prevalence is high in Type 2 diabetic patients. Non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors may be involved in the development of this complication.

Published 1 October 2007 in Diabetes Res Clin Pract, 78(2): 246-53.
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