Open AccessCombined Effects of Glycated Hemoglobin A 1c and Blood Pressure on Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis in Nondiabetic Patients
Author(s) -
Zhu Wen,
Sun Tao,
Shi Haiming,
Li Jian,
Zhu Jun,
Qi Weiling,
Luo Xinping,
Li Yong
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.20788
Subject(s) - medicine , blood pressure , cardiology , diabetes mellitus , glycated hemoglobin , body mass index , odds ratio , risk factor , cholesterol , common carotid artery , lipoprotein , endocrinology , carotid arteries , type 2 diabetes
Background The relationship between HbA 1c , blood pressure, and carotid atherosclerosis in nondiabetic patients is not clear. Hypothesis HbA 1c and blood pressure can affect carotid‐artery atherosclerosis in nondiabetic patients. Methods This retrospective cross‐sectional study included 216 patients without diabetes mellitus. A positive carotid ultrasonographic result was defined as intima‐media thickness of the common carotid artery ≥ 0.9 mm, or presence of carotid plaque. Results Compared with patients without carotid atherosclerosis, patients with carotid atherosclerosis had significantly higher levels of HbA 1c and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Higher levels of HbA 1c and SBP were found to be associated with increased carotid atherosclerosis. Given similar SBP levels, higher HbA 1c (>5.6%) was also related to increased carotid atherosclerosis. In multiple logistic regression analysis, HbA 1c (odds ratio: 4.1, P = 0.009) emerged as the only statistically significant modifiable factor that was associated with carotid atherosclerosis, independent of smoking, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, 2‐hour plasma glucose, SBP, diastolic blood pressure, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. Conclusions Our study shows that a slight increase of HbA 1c may associate with carotid atherosclerosis in nondiabetic patients. Moreover, the coexistence of an elevated SBP level and a slightly increased HbA 1c level may have a more significant effect on carotid atherosclerosis. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dr. Zhu and Dr. Sun contributed equally to this work. The authors of this manuscript have certified that they comply with the Principles of Ethical Publishing in the International Journal of Cardiology (Coats AJ. Ethical authorship and publishing. Int J Cardiol . 2009;131:149–150). This work was supported by a Chinese National Science Grant to Dr. Yong Li (Grant No. 30873350). The authors have no other funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.