Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis among Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Objectives: To assess Carotid artery intima-media thickness in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Study design and setting: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Medicine, CMH Quetta from June 2018 to May 2019. Methodology: Total 176 known type II diabetes mellitus (DM) patients were included in study. Age ranged from 30-70 years. Patients using statin drugs, chronic kidney disease and decompensated liver cirrhosis were excluded. Carotid artery ultrasonography was carried out by radiologist. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) was achieved with a 7 MHz B-mode ultrasound system. The intima-media thickness (IMT) was demarcated as the distance between the leading edge of the luminal echo to the leading edge of the adventitia of the media. This distance was measured during the diastolic phase. This was measured 3 cm before the carotid bifurcation. Also, carotid bifurcation and internal carotid artery 2 cm distally from the carotid bifurcation was scanned. Results: Mean age was 47.86 ± 6.46 years. Most of the patients 125 (71.02%) were consisted of 30 to 50 years of age. Among them the 176 patients, 92 (52.27%) were male and 84 (47.73%) were females. Male to female ratio comprised of 1.1:1. Results further revealed that 43(24.43%) patients showed asymptomatic Carotid artery intima-media thickness. Rest there was no asymptomatic Carotid artery intima-media thickness in 133 (75.57%) patients. Conclusion: This study determined that the frequency of asymptomatic Carotid artery intima-media thickness in patients with type II diabetes mellitus is quite high