Correlation of blood sugar and lipid parameters with carotid intima media thickness among patients with type II diabetes mellitus

Background: Of the various non invasive imaging methods available, arterial intima media thickness measurement obtained by B mode ultrasound is currently recommended by the American Heart Association as being relatively safe, non invasive and inexpensive method of assessing sub clinical atherosclerosis, and being an independent predictor of atherosclerotic events. Aim: To study the correlation between glycemic and lipid levels with carotid intima media thickness among patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Methodology: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted for a period of one year. Patients in the age group of 30 to 70 years with type II diabetes for more than 2 years were included as our study subjects. A total of 100 patients were included as our study subjects. Anthropometric measurements, blood sugar parameters and lipid parameters were measured as per the guidelines. Carotid artery intima media thickness was measured by B mode ultrasound having an electric transducer with a mid frequency of 7.5 MHz. Scans were performed on both the right and left extracranial carotid arteries by trained personnel. The IMT values were measured in six well defined arterial segments- near wall and far wall of distal 6mm of common carotid, the carotid bulb and proximal 6mm of internal carotid artery of both sides. The final IMT considered was the average of the IMT values at the 12 sites examined. Results: A multivariate analysis was performed to assess the various factors influencing the increase in the thickness of CIMT and among that we found a significant correlation had occurred with the factors like BMI, waist hip ratio, fasting and post-prandial blood sugar, HbA1C and among the lipid parameters LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides had shown a statistical significant correlation (p<.05), whereas factors like age, gender, hypertension status, duration of diabetes and HDL cholesterol among the lipid parameter did not show a statistical significant correlation with CIMT (p>.05). Conclusion: CIMT measurement can be used as a regular screening tool in diabetic patients for the early detection of atherosclerosis among them.