Ultrasound Findings of Carotid Arteries in Patients with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background and objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is common public health problem nationally and globally. Early detection of the vascular changes with inexpensive and non-invasive techniques is important in the process of management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and grading of carotid artery atherosclerosis using color doppler ultrasound in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A cross-sectional study was implemented in Radiology Department of Rizgari Teaching Hospital in Hawler city-Kurdistan Region during the period of six months from 1st of March to 1st of September, 2022. Sixty cases of type 2 diabetic patients included in the study and referred from Layla Qasim diabetic center and Rizgari Hospital Outpatient. Left and right carotid arteries (common, internal and bulb) were examined by ultrasound and intima-media thickness were measured, plaque, stenosis and occlusion were looked for. Patients more than 18 years old with type 2 diabetes mellitus included in the study and patients with recent stroke, type 1 diabetes and history of neck surgery were excluded. Results: The mean intima-media thickness of type 2 diabetic patients were higher in both right and left carotid artery bulb (65% and 73.3%) than common (6.7% and 21.7%) and internal carotid arteries (16.7% and 21.7%). The stenosis was observed in 21.7% in each right and left carotid bulb with less proportion of stenosis in common (0% and 1.7%) and internal carotid arteries (8.3% and 3.3%). There was a significant association between smoker and elderly age type 2 diabetic patients and carotid artery stenosis (p=0.03 and p=0.001 respectively). Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus is a common cause of atherosclerotic changes in carotid arteries mainly in the bulb and more on left side. Smoking and elderly age are the common associated factors.