Risk factors for peripheral arterial disease in elderly patients with Type-2 diabetes mellitus: A clinical study

Objectives: To determine risk factors for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in elderly patients with Type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: The elderly patients with Type-2 diabetes treated in the Central Hospital of Cangzhou were enrolled and divided into PAD group and non-PAD group between October 2016 and November 2019, The data of the patients including age, gender, body mass index, blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, white cell count, lymphocyte count, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, uric acid as well as living habits and complications of Type-2 diabetes mellitus were recorded to determine the risk factors for PAD.

Results: One thousand four hundred seventy six (1476) patients were enrolled, in which 465 patients were included in group of PAD, and 1011 in non-PAD group. The univariate analysis revealed that the two groups significantly differed in age (p=0.003), course of T2DM (p=0.001), hypertension (p=0.006), smoking habits (p<0.001), hyperuricemia (p<0.01), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p<0.01), white cell count (p<0.001), lymphocyte count (p<0.001) and diabetic neuropathy (p<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, age (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.21-1.89), smoking habit (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.19-1.68), hypertension (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.15-1.98), diabetic neuropathy (OR: 3.55, 95% CI: 2.14-4.29), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.39-2.61) and hyperuricemia (OR: 2.71, 95% CI: 1.66-3.87) were significant risk factors for PAD.

Conclusions: Age, smoking habit, hypertension, diabetic neuropathy, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and hyperuricemia were independent risk factors for peripheral arterial disease in elderly patients with Type-2 diabetes mellitus.