[Sonographic measurement of intimal thickness of the common carotid artery in diabetics].

Incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in diabetics is known to be 2-4 times higher than in nondiabetic subjects. Intima-media-thickness of common carotid artery (IMT ACC) measured by B-mode sonography positively correlates with the severity of atherosclerotic changes in coronary arteries. This study compares sonographically assessed IMT ACC in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (27 patients, mean age 66.57 +/- 6.06 years) vs. 66 nondiabetic subjects (mean age 63.58 +/- 9.09 years). Intima-media thickness in diabetics was significantly higher when compared with the control group (0.826 +/- 0.29 mm vs. 0.647 +/- 0.26 mm). In the whole cohort of investigated subjects IMT ACC positively correlates with age. When adjusted for age, the mean IMT ACC level was significantly higher in men than in women.