<b>Objective</b>:
Several studies support potential links
between leukocyte relative telomere length (rLTL), a biomarker of biological
aging and type 2 diabetes. This
study investigates relationships between rLTL and subsequent cardiovascular
disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes.
<p><b>Research design
and methods</b>: Consecutive Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (N=5349) from the Hong Kong Diabetes
Register with stored baseline DNA and available follow-up data were studied. rLTL
was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. CVD was diagnosed
based on ICD-9 code.</p>
<p><b>Results: </b>Mean (SD) follow-up was 13.4(5.5) years. rLTL was correlated inversely with age, diabetes duration, blood
pressure, HbA<sub>1c</sub>, urine ACR and positively with eGFR (all P<0.001).
Subjects with versus without CVD at baseline had shorter rLTL (4.3±1.2 vs. 4.6±1.2, P<0.001).
Of the 4541 CVD-free subjects at baseline, the 1140 who developed CVD during
follow-up had shorter rLTL than
those remaining CVD-free after adjusting for age, sex, smoking and albuminuria
status (4.3±1.2 vs. 4.7±1.2, P<0.001). In Cox regression models, shorter rLTL was associated with higher risk
of incident CVD (hazard ratio (95% CI) for each unit decrease: 1.252
(1.195-1.311), P<0.001), which remained significant after adjusting for age,
sex, BMI, SBP, LDL-C, HbA<sub>1c</sub>, eGFR and ACR (hazard ratio (95% CI): 1.141
(1.084-1.200), P<0.001).</p>
<p><b>Conclusions: </b>rLTL
is significantly shorter in type 2 diabetes patients with CVD, is associated
with cardiometabolic risk factors, and is independently associated with
incident CVD. Telomere length may be a useful biomarker for CVD risk in type 2 diabetes.</p>
<b><br>
</b>
Glycemic Control in Chinese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Receiving Oral Antihyperglycemic Medication-Only or Insulin-Only Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Survey
