Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with increased left ventricular mass independent of coronary artery volume

To determine the relationship of left ventricular mass (LVM) and coronary artery volume in diabetic patients and the controls.

This work included 448 consecutive patients (206 patients with diabetes and 242 non-diabetic participants) who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) for evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD). The whole coronary artery tree and the LVM were analysed using a cardiac imaging workstation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent association with coronary artery lumen volume to LVM ratio (V/M).

The total coronary artery cumulative volume and the coronary cumulative length showed no differences between groups (p>0.05); however, the LVM in patients with diabetes was significantly greater than that in controls (132.46±45.04 versus 115.82±29.13, p=0.006), and the total epicardial coronary arterial lumen volume to LVM ratio (V/M) was significantly lower in the diabetic group than in the non-diabetic group (2.02 cm³/100±0.73 g versus 2.31 cm³/100±0.82 g, p=0.024). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, diabetes was associated with V/M (odds ratio [OR] 2.027, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.462-2.728, p=0.001), and hypertension was not associated with V/M (OR 1.191, 95% CI: 0.978-1.451, p=0.081).

Patients with diabetes demonstrated a significantly lower coronary CTA-derived coronary V/M than controls. V/M may have an important role as a global measure of coronary vasculature in diabetic patients.