Endocrine Abstracts

Objectives: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is the macrovascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and type 2 diabetic patients with PAD may have higher incidence of foot amputation and coronary heart disease. We conducted a clinical-based cohort study in northern Taiwan in order to assess PAD in diabetes and its associated risk factors.

Methods: This study enrolled type 2 DM patients not older than 65 years old who were seen in diabetes clinics in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Keelung, Taiwan). Body mass index (BMI) was measured and relevant laboratory investigations were performed. We also checked serum Vitamin D level in each patient. Ankle brachial index (ABI) was obtained for each leg. The lower value obtained for the two legs was taken as the ABI value. A cut off of < 0.9 was used to define PAD. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured to assess arterial stiffness.

Results: We studied 182 patients (85 men and 97 women; mean age 55.5±7.6 years ranging from 30 to 65 years old; mean duration of diabetes 9.4±6.1 years). The prevalence of PAD was 6.6%. PAD subjects had a significantly higher prevalence of proteinuria (33.3% vs 12.4%), and a lower baPWV values than those without PAD (R:1617.5±184.2, L:1575.5±219.8 vs R:1631.8±315.7, L:1634.5±321.9). Otherwise, we did not find a correlation between age, serum vitamin D levels, A1c, duration of diabetes, BMI and PAD.

Conclusion: The low prevalence of PAD in these diabetes patients was due to relatively young age. Our data shows type 2 diabetes patients with proteinuria are at higher risk of PAD. Type 2 diabetes patients with PAD had lower baPWV values than those without PAD. However, more study subjects are needed in the future to enhance the significance of the study.