Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with increased arterial stiffness measured by the echo-tracking method

INTRODUCTION: Data for arterial stiffness (АS) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (Т2DM) patients is important for better management of cardiovascular complications and early therapeutic approach. AIM: The aim of this article is to obtain data for pulse wave velocity (PWVβ) and other AS parameters in patients with T2DM without cardiovascular atherosclerotic disease and compare them with controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional clinical investigation involves a sample of 100 patients with T2DM without cardiovascular complications and a control group of 30 healthy subjects.  In all patients one-point echo-tracking measurement of carotid artery (CA) stiffness with Aloka Prosound α7 machine were conducted and pulse wave velocity (PWVβ), β-stiffness index, arterial compliance (АС), augmentation index (AI), Peterson’s modulus (Ep) were measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Our results showed the mean value of PWVβ on the left CA (L) in the group of patients with T2DM is 7.37 ± 1.32 m/sec and on the right CA (R) is 7.42 ± 1.33 m/sec. The performed t-test showed statistical significance of the differences of PWVβ (L) and PWVβ (R) in the studied group, compared to the control group (t = 3.764; p = 0.001 and t = 3.561; p = 0.001). The data showed significantly higher values of β-stiffness index (p = 0.001) and Ep (p = 0.001) in patients with T2DM compared to controls. AC was significantly lower in T2DM, when it is measured on the left CA (p = 0.001). AI was significantly higher in T2DM when it is measured on the right CA (p = 0.009). Patients with T2DM are associated with significantly increased AS parameters compared to controls.