NT-proBNP levels, atherosclerosis and vascular function in asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria: peripheral reactive hyperaemia index but not NT-proBNP is an independent predictor of coronary atherosclerosis

Table 2 Atherosclerosis measurements in 200 type 2 diabetic patients and in 173 patients with or without atherosclerosis, including coronary calcium score (CCS) ≥400, ankle-brachial index (ABI) < 0.90 and/or toe-brachial index (TBI) < 0.64 and/or carotis intima-media thickness (CIMT) > 0.90 mm, respectively

	All patients (n = 200)	Patients with atherosclerosis (n = 85) ^	Patients without atherosclerosis (n = 88) ^	p-values
Coronary Calcium Score*	183 (6-604)	552 (256-1369)	12 (0-115)	nr
Carotid intima-media thickness (mm)	0.73 (0.15)	0.79 (0.17)	0.68 (0.10)	nr
Carotid function^a (l/mmHg)	0.0026 (0.001)	0.0024 (0.001)	0.0027 (0.001)	0.073
Toe-brachial index (%)	121 (34)	75 (23)	100 (17)	nr
Ankle-brachial index (%)	108 (17)	98 (19)	114 (11)	nr
Pulse pressure wave augmentation ^b*	5 (-2-12)	8 (0-14)	3 (-5-10?)	0.076
Reactive hyperemia index ^c	1.70 (0.44)	1.64 (0.42)	1.75 (0.47)	0.14
Reactive hyperemia index ≤1.43 ^{^^}	45 (27)	26 (33)	14 (20)	0.007
Reactive hyperemia index > 1.43 ^{^^}	122 (73)	43 (55)	64 (93)	0.007
CAD^d no. (%)	70 (35)	44 (52)	16 (18)	<0.001

Data are expressed as means (SD) or medians (interquartile range) *, nr = not relevant, ^acarotid distensibility measured with a ultrasound scanner, peripheral microvascular endothelial function measured as ^bradial augmentation index or ^creactive hyperemia index, both measured with a plethysmographic device. ^d Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) as defined by myocardial perfusion imaging and coronary angiography and previous described [8]. ^ In five, seven and 17 patients CCS, peripheral systolic blood pressure and CIMT were not measured respectively, and we only included patients with structural tests in all three territories (173/200). ^^ Reactive hyperemia index was performed in 167/200 patients and 147 of the 167 patients also had all three structural tests performed.

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