[Impact of diabetes mellitus on other cardiovascular risk factors in patients with stenosis of the internal carotid artery].

Aim: To examine cardiovascular risk factors, clinical features and their impact on the results of carotid endarterectomy in diabetic patients with stenosis of the internal carotid artery.

Material And Methods: We analysed data on 100 diabetic and 607 nondiabetic patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy in Vilnius University Emergency hospital from 1995 through 2005.

Results: Diabetic patients with carotid artery stenosis were younger (p < 0.05), they smoked less often (p < 0.001) and were more often obese (p < 0.001) than nondiabetic patients. 93% of diabetic patients had arterial hypertension or hypercholesterolemia or even more cardiovascular risk factors. Diabetic were more likely to have nonspecific symptoms and severe bilateral carotid stenosis (p < 0.01). Perioperative stroke and mortality rate was 12% for diabetic and 3.4% for nondiabetic patients (p < 0.001), but no perioperative myocardial infarction was identified in diabetic patients. Four clinical factors increased the odds of complications: age 75 > (odds ratio--OR 2.2; 95% confidence interval--CI 1-4.9), smoking (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.8-4.2), obesity (OR 6.1; 95% CI 3.9-9.5) and severe bilateral carotid stenosis (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.3-3.6).

Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis changes conventional risk factors, clinical picture of the disease and increases the risk of carotid endarterectomy.