|
Item
#9
Diabetes
Associated with Carotid Atherosclerosis
Impaired
fasting glucose does not identify those at increased risk of
atherosclerosis.
A
group of researchers led by Dr De Michele from Federico II
University in Naples, Italy, studied whether diabetes, as defined
by the new American Diabetes Association criteria, is linked to
early signs of carotid atherosclerosis. The group measured
cardiovascular risk factors and intima-media thickness of common
carotid arteries and carotid bifurcations in 310 clinically
healthy women aged 30 to 69 years.
The
researchers showed that 17 women had newly diagnosed diabetes, 7
had fasting glucose levels >7.0mmol/L, 38 had impaired
fasting glucose, and 248 had normal fasting glucose levels. Women
with diabetes had a worse cardiovascular risk profile, with higher
levels of triglycerides, body mass index, and diastolic blood
pressure than women with impaired or normal fasting glucose
levels. As glucose homeostasis worsened, the frequency of
atherosclerotic plaques (intima-media thickness >1.2mm)
increased. Only diabetes was associated with a significantly
increased risk of carotid atherosclerosis, according to
multivariate logistic regression analyses (odds ratio 11.5, 95% CI
1.4-92.7). The authors suggest that diabetes, defined according to
the new American Diabetes Association criteria, is associated with
early carotid atherosclerosis, and that impaired fasting glucose
does not identify those at increased risk of atherosclerosis. Metabolism
2002;51:52-6
================================
FACT:
Studies
have shown that improving glycemic control has direct and indirect
benefits. In an
analysis of HMO utilization data in the state of Washington, a
reduction of HbA1c of 1% resulted in a difference in health care
costs of almost a 1000 dollars per person per year.
Source:
Diabetes 2001: Vital Stats Pg. 121
================================
Back / Next Item
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
