Diabetic microvascular complications are associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an important and common pathologic change in the heart of patients with diabetes mellitus. Microvascular complications have been reported to be involved in the development and process of LVH. This study aimed to explore the association between diabetic microvascular complications and LVH in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 2912 patients with T2DM were enrolled, including 360 patients with LVH and 2552 patients without LVH. Demographic data, medical history and laboratory indices were collected, along with information on diabetic microvascular complications and results from cardiac ultrasonography. The study utilized multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the independent effects of microvascular complications (DR, DPN, or DKD) and the cumulative number of these complications on the presence of LVH, while adjusting for potential confounding factors. RESULT In patients with T2DM, those with LVH were older and had higher body mass index, waist circumference and hip circumference than those without LVH. Additionally, the proportion of patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) was larger among those with LVH compared to those without LVH. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, DR and DKD were associated with increased odds of LVH (odds ratio [OR] = 1.351 and OR = 1.404, respectively). The risk of LVH also increased progressively in patients with two or more diabetic microvascular conditions compared to those with only one. In subgroup analysis, the risk of LVH increased with the number of microvascular conditions in male patients with T2DM. CONCLUSIONS Diabetic microvascular complications were significantly associated with LVH in T2DM. Moreover, the risk of LVH increased with the number of microvascular complications, particularly in males with T2DM.