Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Pediatric Type 1 Diabetic Patients

OBJECTIVE:--To compare the carotid artery intima-media thickness in Hispanic pediatric type 1 diabetic patients against that in healthy control subjects matched for age, sex, height, and BMI. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--The evaluation consisted of anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, and a carotid Doppler and real-time ultrasound, in which carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT), peak systolic velocity, and end diastolic velocity were measured using standardized procedures. RESULTS:--A total of 52 diabetic patients and 47 control subjects were included. No significant differences existed in the characteristics between case and control subjects (mean age 11.8 ± 3.1 vs. 11.8 ± 2.8 years, weight 42.2 ± 15.3 vs. 44.2 ± 14.4 kg, height 1.45 ± 0.15 vs. 1.47 ± 0.15 m, BMI 19.3 ± 3.2 vs. 19.9 ± 4.4 kg/m², systolic blood pressure 99.1 ± 9.9 vs. 99.6 ± 9 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure 63 ± 6.4 vs. 62.0 ± 5.7 mmHg, respectively). The mean duration of diabetes was 4.8 ± 3.2 years (range 6-144 months), and the mean A1C was 8.6 ± 1.6%. A significantly higher cIMT was found in the patients with type 1 diabetes (0.463 ± 0.04 vs. 0.441 ± 0.04 mm; P = 0.001). In contrast, both peak systolic velocity (107.1 ± 22.8 vs. 119.3 ± 19.2, P < 0.005) and end diastolic velocity (28.4 ± 6.0 vs. 33.0 ± 7.0, P < 0.001) were higher in the control subjects. CONCLUSIONS:--Type 1 diabetes is associated with higher cIMT and decreased flow velocities in a Hispanic pediatric population.