13 Jan 2025
A recent study investigated the relationship between autonomic neuropathy and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (SCAS) in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The research involved 1,788 participants and utilized non-invasive methods to assess autonomic function and carotid artery health. Key findings include:
- 24% of participants exhibited autonomic dysfunction.
- Those with autonomic dysfunction had a higher prevalence of SCAS (68.1% vs 58.3%).
- Individuals with SCAS showed lower autonomic function scores and a higher proportion of autonomic abnormalities.
- After adjusting for confounding factors, including HbA1c, autonomic dysfunction was significantly associated with an increased risk of SCAS (odds ratio = 1.48, 95% CI 1.13-1.95).
- For each standard deviation decrease in autonomic function score, the adjusted odds ratio for SCAS was 1.17 (95% CI 1.04-1.32).
The study concludes that autonomic neuropathy is significantly related to subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in people with type 2 diabetes. This research highlights the importance of monitoring autonomic function in diabetic patients as a potential indicator of cardiovascular risk.