Relationship between advanced glycation end products, coronary risk factors, abdominal aortic diameter and carotid intimal thickness in elderly diabetics

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Aortic aneurysm early detection is crucial in cases having elevated clinical risk due to its life-threatening sequelae. This study aims to understand the relationship between advanced glycation end products (AGEs), coronary risk factors, abdominal aortic diameter (AAD) and carotid blood flow in elderly diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: A case control study conducted on 90 elderly patients, 60 years and above, recruited from the Ain Shams University Hospital. Elderly subjects were divided into 3 groups. Group I (controls): 30 patients without DM; Group II (cases): 30 diabetic cases without co-morbidities; and Group III (cases): 30 diabetic cases with co-morbidities. All groups have undergone assessment of blood sugar, serum lipids, and AGEs, in addition to measurement of carotid intima-medial thickness (CIMT) by carotid duplex scan. Results: Coronary risk is significantly high in Group III (19.300±9.542) followed by Group II (18.200±11.704) then the control group (7.562±5.241). CIMT is significantly higher in Group III (1.377±0.220) followed by Group II (1.193±0.276) then the control group (0.993±0.246). AGEs are significantly high in Group I followed by Group II then Group III. CIMT is statistically significantly correlated with AGEs in Group I. No statistically significant correlation between AAD and AGEs in study groups. There is highly significant correlation between coronary risk and AGEs in Group II. Conclusion: Mean carotid intimal thickness is considered as an early marker of atherosclerotic disease.