The relationship between HbA1c and carotid intima-media thickness in type 2 diabetic patients

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between HbA1c and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) which is noninvasive marker of atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: 81 type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled in this study. Demographic, clinical and laboratory features of the patients were obtained from hospital records. cIMT values were measured by high resolution B-mode ultrasound. Patients were divided into two groups according to cIMT values: cIMT < 0,9 mm group and cIMT >= 0,9 mm group. Increased cIMT values were accepted as >= 0,9 mm. Then we compared HbA1c and other collected features between normal and increased cIMT groups. Results: 69,2% of the patients were female, 30,8% were male. The mean age of the patients were 58,4 +/- 10,7 year. The mean HbA1c values of the patients were 8,6 +/- 2,03%. The mean cIMT values of the patients were 0,74 +/- 0,22 mm. Result with Student T test and ROC curve analysis HbA1c values were'nt different between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: in this present study we demonstrated that HbA1c could not be a marker for subclinical atherosclerosis in diabetic patients.