Bone proteins are associated with cardiovascular risk according to the SCORE2-Diabetes algorithm

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Cardiology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Bone proteins sclerostin and periostin are linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Existing CVD risk scores may not fully capture risk in type 2 diabetes patients.
• The SCORE2-Diabetes algorithm specifically predicts 10-year CVD risk in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum sclerostin and periostin levels and CVD risk scores.
• To evaluate the predictive value of these bone proteins in patients with type 2 diabetes.
• To compare their association with established risk scales like FRS, REGICOR, and SCORE2-Diabetes.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 104 type 2 diabetes patients.
• Collection of clinical data, biochemical measurements, and serum levels of sclerostin and periostin.
• Calculation of various vascular risk scales, including SCORE2-Diabetes, FRS, and REGICOR.

Main Results:

• Positive correlations were found between sclerostin and periostin levels and the SCORE2-Diabetes risk score (p<0.001).
• No significant correlation was observed with the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) or REGICOR.
• Elevated sclerostin and periostin levels were associated with high-very high CVD risk (score ≥10%) in type 2 diabetes patients.
• Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed significant area under the curve (AUC) values for sclerostin (0.696), periostin (0.749), and their combination (0.795).

Conclusions:

• Sclerostin and periostin show a significant association with vascular risk as predicted by the SCORE2-Diabetes algorithm.
• These bone proteins may serve as novel biomarkers for identifying cardiovascular risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
• Further research is warranted to explore their clinical utility in cardiovascular risk stratification.