Dissociation of Microangiopathy and Macroangiopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Seo, C J; Lee, K Y; Song, K S; Jung, Y S; Kim, Hong Kyu; Park, H Y; Lee, W G; Kang, M H

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous disease. As to its complications, microangiopathy predominantly develop in some patients while macroangiopathy is more predominant in others. Therefore, this study was performed to identify the factors associated with such dissociation.
METHODS
Type 2 diabetic patients were classified into the macro and microangiopathy groups by carotid intima-medial thickness (IMT) and the presence of severe diabetic retinopathy. Patients with IMT RESULTS
When the microangiopathy and macroangiopathy groups were compared, the microangiopathy group were significantly younger at the time of examination and at the onset of diabetes, and had longer duration of diabetes. Percentage of patients receiving insulin treatment was significantly higher and plasma C-peptide significantly lower in the microangiopathy group. However, HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the macroangiopathy group. Furthermore, the multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that younger onset of type 2 diabetes was an independent factor that was associated with the acceleration of microangiopathy.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that the age at onset of diabetes is an important independent risk factor that is associated with predominant development of microangiopathy in type 2 diabetic patients.