Leukocyte VCS parameters as potential auxiliary markers associated with diabetes and its inflammatory complications:...

ObjectiveChronic inflammation is central to the development of diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications, with leukocytes acting as key mediators. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between leukocyte volume, conductivity, and light scatter (VCS) parameters and diabetes mellitus, as well as the presence of diabetic complications.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 295 diabetic patients and 167 healthy controls, recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University between October 2023 and October 2024. Diabetic patients were further stratified into groups with complications (n = 96) and without complications (n = 199). Leukocyte VCS parameters were measured using a Beckman Coulter DxH900 analyzer. ROC curve analysis evaluated discriminatory capacity. Sensitivity analysis excluded 23 patients with documented infectious diagnoses or diabetic foot. Multivariable logistic regression adjusting for age and sex assessed independent associations.ResultsDiabetic patients exhibited significantly increased leukocyte volumes compared to controls (all P < 0.0001). Lymphocyte upper median-angle light scatter (MN-UMALS-LY) showed the highest discriminatory capacity for diabetes (AUC = 0.770, 95% CI: 0.728-0.813) and modest capacity for complications (AUC = 0.615, 95% CI: 0.547-0.682). MN-UMALS-LY was independently associated with complication status after adjusting for age and sex (OR = 1.047, 95% CI: 1.015-1.080, P = 0.004). Sensitivity analysis excluding patients with infections confirmed that MN-UMALS-LY remained significant (ANOVA P = 0.017; ROC AUC = 0.604, P = 0.009).ConclusionLeukocyte VCS parameters, particularly MN-UMALS-LY, were significantly altered in diabetes and independently associated with complication status. These findings are exploratory and require prospective multicenter validation.