Carotid artery ultrasound for vascular complications of diabetes: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives

Several studies have reported the potential association between carotid artery ultrasound index and vascular complications of diabetes. However, the studies of non-significant association results were against the association between carotid artery ultrasound index and vascular complications in diabetes. Therefore, the relationship between carotid artery ultrasound index and vascular complications in diabetes were still debated and controversial.

Methods

The cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional studies were included in the current meta-analysis. The diabetes with and without vascular complications groups in the enrolled studies were compared for the hazard ratio (HR) of diabetic angiopathy (microangiopathy and macroangiopathy) using Review Manager (RevMan). Fourteen studies were included in this meta-analysis. The HR was defined for the 1 mm increase of intima-media thickness of common carotid artery in the ultrasound screening to predict the vascular complications in diabetes.

Results

The 1-mm increase of intima-media thickness of common carotid artery was significantly associated with a greater log HR of diabetic angiopathy [1.31 (1.19–1.44), Z = 5.41]. However, a substantial heterogeneity was observed in the meta-analysis results.

Discussion

The index of carotid artery ultrasound, such as the increased common carotid artery intima-media thickness, might predict the diabetic angiopathy in the current meta-analytic results.