Type II diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular markers in humans: a prospective study in hellenic homogeneous population

Abstract

Approximately 200 million people, worldwide, are currently having Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a prevalence that has been predicted to increase to 366 million by 2030. Atherosclerotic coronary heart disease (CHD) and other forms of
cardiovascular disease (CYD) are the major cause of mortality in T2DM as well as a major contributor to morbidity and lifetime costs.
A number of unfavorable conditions predisposing to CVD coexist with diabetic status including hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, inflammation and coagulation, many of which may be closely associated with insulin resistance. In addition, mutations and polymorphisms in a number of genes have also been linked with monogenic and polygenic forms of T2DM. In this respect, the possible relationship between these disorders and a number of biochemical factors in a selection of different age groups of diabetic patients was studied.
The purpose of the present work was the identification of biochemical parameters in plasma, which may serve as predisposition factors to CVD in T2DM patients of different age. The variability of hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, and inflammation with age progression were studied.
Four different diabetic groups allocated based on the subjects age (Group A:15-25 years old; Group 13:26-40 years old; Group C:40-60 years old; Group D:60-80 years old) and consisting of ten patients each, in parallel with ten matched for age, sex and ethnic origin healthy controls, were screened for glucose, insulin, lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL) and inflammatory mediators (Homocysteine, CRP, IL-6, TNF-a).
Significant differences were observed between the expression of biochemical markers among different age groups. Hyperglycaemia showed no variability with age whereas dyslipidaemia correlated positively with age progression, as well as obesity, low physical activity and family history of heart disease or diabetes. Marked inflammation was prominent only in Groups C and D.
The present study indicates that different biochemical parameters may be used for assessment of CVD risk in T2DM patients of variable age.