Relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and hemorheology assessed by microchannel method in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIM

In addition to atherosclerosis, impairment of blood rheology is an important factor in cardiovascular events. The present study attempted to clarify the relationship between hemorheology and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus assessed by a microchannel method.

METHODS

We enrolled 294 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (109 males and 185 females; mean age, 69 ± 11 years) with no history of cardiovascular events. Hemorheology was evaluated with a microchannel array flow analyzer, and the relationship between whole-blood passage time (WBPT) and various clinical parameters was examined.

RESULTS

WBPT was significantly correlated with advanced glycation end-product (AGE) levels at the skin ( = 0.49,  < 0.001), serum reactive oxygen metabolite concentrations (oxidative stress markers) ( = 0.25,  < 0.001), the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI, arterial function marker) ( = 0.32,  < 0.001), and a number of classical cardiovascular risk factors in an individual ( = 0.45,  < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that these factors were selected as independent variables for WBPT as a subordinate factor.

CONCLUSION

Hemorheology is significantly associated with novel cardiovascular risk factors, such as AGEs, in vivo oxidative stress, and CAVI, and clustering of classical cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.