diagnostic value of carotid artery intima-media thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes and its correlation with hba1c levels

Objectives: this study aimed to assess the role of carotid ultrasonography and measure the carotid artery intima-media thickness (cimt) and its correlation with hemoglobin a1c (hba1c) to observe cardiovascular disease (cvd) risks in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (t2dm). methods: in this observational study, 205 consecutive patients with t2dm from golestan hospital, ahvaz, iran, were included. we performed hba1c measurements using high-pressure liquid chromatography (hplc) with a thermo-system. carotid arteries ultrasonography was performed with an aloka ssd 5500 apparatus with a 7.5 mhz transducer. the cimt was measured in the supine position with a slight neck extension. results: there was no statistically significant difference between the two study groups in the duration of diabetes with cimt (p = 0.425), while the differences in creatinine, hba1c, and urine albumin were statistically significant (p = 0.020, p = 0.041, and p = 0.016, respectively). there was no correlation between cimt and age (r = 0.19, p = 0.792) and duration of diabetes (r = 0.125, p = 0.081). furthermore, there was no remarkable association between cimt and weight (r = 0.12, p = 0.881) and fbs ( r = 0.062, p = 0.405). there was also a non-significant negative correlation between hba1c% and cimt (r = -0.127, p = 0.127). conclusions: ultrasound measurement of cimt is a safe and relatively cost-effective way of diagnosing atherosclerosis. thus, the ultrasound's predictive value as a safe and non-invasive examination may alert the related field experts early enough to intervene to prevent major cardiovascular complications.